3 


lis 






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ANNALS 



OF THE 



TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH, 



?g?in.Qtiorotts!j eountj?^ N» Uh 



From its first Settlement to the Year 1841. 



BY CHARLES JAMES SMITH. 



PRINTED FOR THE PUBLISHER, BY J. C. WILSON. 

184L 



I— '•; 



<^if 



■ vD W 'O 



ICF'The substance of the following historical sketch, was deliv- 
ered by appointment, before the Hillsborough Lyceum, March 
10, 1841. At the request of many individuals it has been altered for 
publication to a style more adapted to historical narration, and con- 
siderable addition has been made thereto. The Author regrets that 
a pressure of other occupations, prevented his bestowing the time, and 
attention upon the subject, which might have rendered it more worthy 
of the acceptance, of those interested in the work. It is believed 
however, that every thing herein stated, may be relied upon as authen- 
tic ; as it has been an object of the writer, to give it accuracy. 






ERRATA 



Page 36 line 12 from top, read 1S17 instead of 1811. 



40 
44 
44 
47 
47 
55 



86 

5 

20 

21 

27 
3 



Wead '•' Mead. 

Albert " Alfred. 

Gen. " Dea. 

Eber •' Elder. 

Stratton " Shatton. 

Wayland " May land. 

Wead '' Mead. * 

Dawson " Davison. 

Antrim " Castine. 

Wilton " Milton. 

The first period of the first paragraph on the 41st page, 

shouldhavebeen the last period of the preceding para- 
graph. 

Omit the word at the end of the 30th line on 64th 
page. 

Page 65th line 17, read '-'despite the skill of:' instead of 
''■after a few months of earnest:' 



" 60 lines 25 & 27 " 

" 63 line 13 from •' 

" 64 '•' 8 '' " 

''• 68 " 29 " '' 



ANNALS OF HILLSBOROUGH. 



Hillsborough is situated in the northwest corner of the county 
of Hillsborough in latitude 43o 9' north. It is bounded on the north 
by Bradford, on the east by Henniker, on the south by Deering and 
Antrim and on the west by Windsor and Washington. It is the most 
northerly town in Hillsborough county, adjoining the counties of Mer- 
rimack and Sullivan, and is se|3arated from the county of Cheshire 
only by the small town of Windsor on the west. The centre of the 
town is about equi-distant from the shire towns of Hillsborough, ]\Ier- 
rimack, Sullivan, and Cheshire counties. Its shape is nearly that ot 
a diamond, being six miles square, and containing by estimation 27,320 
acres. The town is well watered and it is belived, better irrigated than 
any other in the county of Hillsborough. The south and pricipai 
branch of Contoocook river, having its origin at the base of the Grand 
Monadnock mountain in the County of Cheshire, enters the town on 
the south line, near the corners of Antrim and Deering, where it re- 
ceives the North Branch of the same. The North Branch of the 
Contoocook, has its rise from Horse-shoe pond on the west side of 
Lovell's mountain, in Washington ; thence running southerly into 
Stoddard, forms Long Pond in that town after which it takes a north- 
easterly course and pursues its way through the north part of Antrim 
into Hillsborough, and after running nearly four miles in the south 
part of the town (in which distance it receives the waters of Hillsbo- 
rough river,) joins the main stream or south branch of the Contoocook 
on the south line of the town near the corners of Antrim and Deer- 



4 - ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

ing. After their confluence the Contoocook meanders through the 
south eastern part of the town into Henniker. 

The Hillsborough river is composed of several branches, the lar- 
gest and principal of which rises in the eastern part of Washington, 
enters Hillsborough on its northern border, after which it courses di- 
agonally seven miles through its whole extent and joins the northern 
branch of the Contoocook on the southern limit of the town. A con- 
siderable branch from the west unites with the main stream in Symonds's 
interval. This branch is Ibrmed by several- lesser branches one of 
which issues from Black Pond in Windsor and passes through the 
Upper village on the turnpike. Another has its source from a pond 
in Stoddard. These unite a little cast of the Upper village^ and pass 
into the main branch as before described. Another small trihutary 
originates near Willson's IMineral Spring in the west part of Bradford 
and discharges itself into the main stream in the north part of the 
town. A large number of small brooks and rivulets intersect in the 
^own. The Contoocook and Hillsborough rivers, with thek' several 
branches, in their progress through the town, aflbrd many excellent 
mill seats and water privileges which are improved to a considerable 
degree, though by no means to the full extent of their capacity. 

There are three natural ponds. The largest body of water is 
Loon Pond v.liich lies a little northwest of the centre of the town, 
thus named from its being inhabited by Loons in the warm season. 
It is one mile in length, and two thirds of a mile wide ; and has two 
outlets one of which flows into Ilillsborough river, the other into 
Contention pond. It is a very picturesque sheet of water, and is 
plentifully stocked vviih a variety of excellent fish. Its waters are 
transparent and pure; and during the winter season are frozen — pre- 
senting a beautiful icy expansion. There are two other ponds ot con- 
siderable magnitude, Contention Pond and Campbell's Pond, Con- 
tention Pond is situated a short distance northwest of Loon Pond and is 
so called from a contention among the early proprietors concerning the 
boundaries. It has an outlet which falls into Hillsborough river. Camp- 
bell's pond lies in the southeast part of the town. It derives its name 
from the late Danic! Campbell, Esq. of Amherst, who first discov- 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. fi 

ered it. These ponds are much frequented by fishing parlies, and 
together make a surface of five hundred acres of water. 

There is no very remarkable elevation of land in the town tiiough 
ihere are many fine eminences, from whose summits extensive views 
of the surrounding country may be had. Stow's mountain, (the only 
hill in town whose ahitude will permit it to assume the name) in the 
northwest part, is the highest point of land in Hillsborough. This 
mountain derives its name from the late Dea. Joel Stow who occupi- 
ed a farm on its southeastern slope, nearly half a century. The high- 
est inhabited land is the site of the domicil of Mr. Justus Pike, on 
the eastern declivity of the above mentioned mountain. The lowest, 
is believed to be on the south side of the Contoocook, a few rods be- 
low Hillsborough Bridge. The surface of the town is uneven, being 
greatly diversified by hills and dales. It has a rugged yet, in gener- 
al strong and productive soil. It is suitably divided into tillage and 
pasturage, and is principally of a deep gravelly loam, favorable for 
grass and all kinds of English grain. Every description of forest 
tree common in New Hampshire is found here in greater or less 
abundance. The most prevalent are the hemlock, beech, elm, spruce 
and ash, and the different varieties of the oak, maple, pine, birch and 
cherry. The lofty and noble white pine formerly abounded in great 
luxuriance upon the low ground on the banks of the rivers, but has 
principally been cut away for timber- 
Considerable quantities of granite are sprinkled in detached blocks, 
on the highlands which thougli not of the most beautiful texture is 
wrought into hearth and door stones and is used in underpinning 
buildings, in the erection of bridges, and for various other architectu- 
ral purposes. The second New Hampshire turnpike road, comple- 
ted in 1801, leading from Claremont to Amherst, passes through the 
west part of the town in a northwesterly direction. It has a course 
of about four miles in the town. There are four villages in Hillsbo- 
rough which are thus designated, Hillsborough Centre, Hillsborough 
Bridge, the Upper village, and die Lower village. The centre 
village stands on a hill a little southeast of the exact centre of the 
t3wn. It is a small village containing but ten dwelling houses, 



6 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

most of which are large and valuable. Here are two Meeting houses. 
The old Meeting house as it is most commonly styled is the properly 
of the town and is now used almost exclusively as a town house. It 
is a spacious structure without steeple or bell. The exterior of the 
body of the house is painted white, the roof red. It is visible (from 
its lofty site) at a great distance, and presents a goodly specimen of 
the style of church architecture prevalent in New England half a 
century since. Hallowed associations cluster around this venerable 
lime-worn edifice. We are reminded of the fathers of the hamlet so 
many of them now slumbering in the dust, who have gone up there 
through many successive years, to listen to the oracles of the most 
High, as they have been expounded by those holy men, who from 
time to time have ministered at its altar, — of those who have so often 
mingled in the primary political assemblies, convoked, within its walls. 
What recollections must be awakened, in the minds of those who 
have been intimately conversant with the history of the town for the 
last fifty years, as they gaze upon it and call to remembrance so many 
of their cotemporaries now at rest in the grave, who have figured 
there. 

The new Congregational church erected in 1839 at an expense of 
^2400, exclusive of the bell, stands close by the old sanctuary. It 
is a neat and elegant house, constructed of wood, painted white, with 
green Venetian window blinds, and is surmounted by abeautiful tower. 
In this tower is suspended a powerful, and fine toned bell ; one of 
the best in the state, which can be heard distinctly in any part of the 
town. Enoch Train, Esq. of Boston, INIass., who was bred in the 
town and has ever taken a lively interest in its prosperity, contributed 
very liberally to the purchase of this bell. 

At the north end of this village, within the shade of venerable t 
elms, and fronted by a green lawn, stands the stately dwelling of the j; 
first minister of the town, now in the possession of his descendants. 
This village has been the seat of a high school, which has been kept 
in the autumn for several years past in the vestry, a little east of the 
Meetin-;, houses. Tiic commanding elevation on which this village is 
situated, overlooks a wide expanse of country ; which presents a 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. ' 7 

magnificent landscape of variegated scenery, peculiar to this region. 
The beautiful and romantic village of Hillsborough Bridge is very 
pleasantly located on both sides of the Contoocook river, which is 
crossed here by an elegant and substantial arched granite bridge, 
which gives the village its name. It is three miles southeast of the 
centre village, and near the northern lino of Deering. The Con- 
toocook by two falls of considerable extent, supplies this village with 
a valuable water power. There are a number of excellent sites for 
mills and factories, several of which are occupied. The main body 
of the village is built upon two bluffs, which rise on both sides of the 
river, to the height of seventy or eighty feet above the bed of the 
stream. At the lower fall by the bridge, the Contoocook is compres- 
sed within the distance of a single span, and the cascade of water 
makes a sublime appearance as seen from below, through the arch of 
the bridge. The mills, factories, and a number of dwellings are lo- 
cated in the river valley. This village is the seat of considerable 
business, mercantile and manufacturing. 

There are fifty-six dwelling houses, two churches, three stores, 
two hotels, two cotton factories, two grist mills, two saw mills, two 
shoe stores, one trip-hammer and axe manufactory, one lawyer, one 
physician, a post office, &;c. Many of the dwellings are handsome, 
especially those of recent construction and a number of them exhib- 
it, much neatness, and taste, in their architecture, yet the beauty of 
the village is considerably diminished by the irregularity in the arrange- 
ment of its buildings, and the narrowness of its streets. Both Meet- 
ing houses are on the north side of the river, which is much the most 
populous part of the village. That connected with the Congrega- 
tional church, is very handsomely situated, northwest of the compact 
portion of the village. It was erected in 1836, at an expense of 
$3300. It is an elegant and commodious structure, of the Tuscan 
order of arehitecture with a good bell. The Methodist church is a 
neat and convenient edifice, and stands at the northern extremity of 
the village on the centre road Here are two cotton factories and 
one woollen factory. The cotton factory on the north side of the 
river was built in 1811, and contains 1800 spindles, and 40 looms. 



8 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

The number of operatives employed here is about GO. Marcy's 
Cotton Factory on the south side of the Contoocook is occupied in 
the manufacture of cotton yarn, wicking, &c. It contains 512 spin 
dies and emjiloys about 16 operatives. This establishment was con- 
structed in 182S. This village is the centre of trade for a consid- 
erable extent of country around it ; and the great power for machine- 
ry, furnished by the falls of the Contoocook here, augurs well, for its 
future growth and prosperity. It is one of the most flourishing villa- 
ges in this section of the state and has increased three fold within the 
last twelve years, for which it is much indebted to the enterprise, and 
perseverance, of Capt. Caleb Cook, agent of the north cotton fac- 
tory, and Mr. Joshua Marcy proprietor of the south factory. 

The Lower village stands principally on a gentle swell of land, 
two and a half miles northwest of the Bridge and the same distance 
southwest of the Centre village. It lies on both sides of the second 
New Hampshire Turnpike road, and contains an academy building 
of brick, two taverns, one store, sixteen dwelling houses, a lawyer's 
office, a post office, &c. The elegant mansion of the late Governor 
Pierce now the property of Gen. John McNeil, stands at the north- 
ern extremity of this village. 

To the north of the Lower village, on the turnpike road is a Meet- 
ing house, with a bell attached to it, built in 1828, for the use of the 
Baptist society of the town. The Upper village on the turnpike, is 
one mile and a half northwest of the Lower village, and three miles 
west of the Centre village. It is a pleasant street embracing twenty 
two dwellings, one tavern, two stores, a number of mechanics, &c. 
A branch of the Hillsborough river passes through this village afford- 
ing it a good water power which is improved by several establishments 
for the manufacture ol carriages, furniture, 8ic. 

There are three lines of stages, which pass through the town. The 
line from Nashua to Claremont, N. H., Windsor and Burlington, Vt., 
passes through the tow n, on the turnpike daily. Also, the line from 
Nashua through Francestown to Hillsborough Upper village passes 
daily through Hillsborough Bridge, and the Lower village to the Up- 
per village where it terminates. The line from Concord to Keene, 



OF HILLSBOROrGH. 



thence through Brattleborough, Vt. to Troy,N. Y., passes daily through 
ilie Bridge village and the Lower village. All these lines transport ihe 
U.S. Mail, Hillsborough contains five churches, five hotels, six stores, 
two cotton factories, one woollen factory ,two fulling mills, seven sawmills 
three grist mills, five tanneries, one starch factory, three post offices, 
seventeen school houses, two lawyers, three physicians, &c. The 
total annual value of the manufactures of the town, is about ^^4 0,000. 
Amount of capital invested $55,000. The essential interest of the 
town is agricultural, and a majority of the inhabitants are engaged in 
the pursuits of husbandry. Nashua, Lowell, and Boston, are the 
principal marts for the exports of the town. The population in June, 
1840, was 1808. 

The first settlement in Hillsborough was commenced in 1741. In that 
year, a company of men having associated for the purpose, made their 
way from the vicinity of Bo=ton, through the dense and pathless for- 
est, which then covered nearly the entire surface of the present coun- 
ty of Hillsborough, and laid an encampment within the limits of this 
town. The province of Massachusetts exercised jurisdiction over 
this section of New Hampshire until the year 1741, when the present 
boundary line between the two provinces was settled by a royal de- 
cision. This town had been j)revloiisly granted by the government of 

]\lassachusetls, to Col. John Hill, and Keyes, both of Boston, 

who had employed a surveyor, to jiarcel it into lots. It may be 
proper, before we proceed farther, to glance for a moment, at the state 
of this section of New Hampshire at thai j)eriod. One hundred years 
ago, the country for many miles around, was a dreary wilderness ; 
the untutored savage roamed in undisturbed security, througli the 
thick forests, or glided in his light canoe over the lonely silent waters. 
Every variety ot forest tree indigenous to New England covered the 
soil. The forests were alive with every species of wild game. The 
waters abounded with salmon trout and pickerel, and other specimens 
of the finny tribes, delightful to the palate. The whole northern and 
western part of the present county of Hillsborough, was then an un- 
broken solitude, untrodden by civilized man — wild and uncultivated 
as when it came from its creator's hand. Slight openings in the for- 

B 



10 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

est had been effected at New Boston, and at Peterborough. The 
settlements in these towns were nearly coeval with that of Hillsbo- 
rough. " A line drawn from Rochester and Barrington to Boscawen 
and Concord, thence through Hopkinton, Hillsborough, and Peterbo- 
rough," to Keene, Swanzey, Winchester, and Hinsdale, then con- 
stituted the frontier line. The whole region north of it, with the ex- 
ception of small openings at Westmoreland, and Charlestown, "occu- 
pied by a few families, was a gloomy forest, a fit lurking place for 
savages." In 1744, a war broke out between England, and France, 
known as the Cape Breton war, so called from the reduction of Lou- 
isburg, on that island, in 1745, by the famous expedition from the 
New England colonies. The Indians from the northwestern fron- 
tiers who were in the interest of the French, embraced this opportu- 
nity to spread devastation, and death among the people who dwelt 
upon the borders, regarding their encroachments, and increase, with 
distrust and alarm. The residents of the frontier plantations were 
accustomed in those days of peril, to fortify one private house in each 
settlement, by inclosing it with a palisade, made by inserting sharpen- 
ed stakes of timber in the ground, to which all the inhabitants retired 
for safety. The savage foe lurked in ambush in the deep recesses of 
the forest, sallying forth to desolate their fields, destroy their cattle, 
burn their dwellings, and butcher, or lead captive the inhabitants. 
" The husbandman cleared and tilled his land under the protection 
of a guard, uncertain whether the seed he committed to the ground, 
might be watered by his blood, or that of an enemy." The follow- 
ing extract from a ballad written in commemoration of those days of 
Indian incursion, will convey some idea of the dangers, which beset 
the early borderers in 1746, which was two years after the commence- 
ment of hostilities, and the year in which the first settlers of Hillsbo- 
rough deserted their clearings. 



" England and France a cruel war 
Had with each other waged ; 
"Wo to the colonies ! for there 
Its bloodiest contests raged. 



OP HILLSBOROUGH. H 

The fierce Canadians (Frenchmen they) 
Had set the Indians on ; 
'Twas sad to see for many a day, 
The mischief that was done. 

Houses vyere burnt, and cattle slain, 
And smiling fields laid waste : 
To seek the lurking foe was vain, 
His steps might not be traced ; 

( 
For the dark trackless woods conceal'd 
Him, issuing whence he seized 
The unwary laborer in his field, 
A captive, if he pleased ; 

Or else more merciful, despatched 
Him at a single blow, 
Then his defenceless home attacked, 
And laid his loved ones low ; 

Or led into captivity 
The children and the wife, ' 
In hardship, pain, and misery, 
To drag a weary life. 

Such scenes as these, we understand 
Were acted o'er and o'er, 
Beginning first at Westmoreland, 
Not far from Number Four. 

In both those towns, in Keene likewise 
Were killed and taken some ; 
And then eight persons by surprise, 
They took in Hopkinton. 

Oh ! faces gathered paleness then. 
Hearts trembled with dismay ; — 
Of foes without, the fears within. 
Disturbed them night and day." 

The descent upon Hopkinton mentioned in the above extract oc- 
curedon the morning of the twenty-second of April, 1746. A party 
of Indians arrived with muskets, tomahawks, knives, &c., entered a 
fortified house while the inmates were buried in slunaber, tlie door 



XZ ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

having been left open by one who had gone out early to hunt, and 
captured eight persons. Intelligence of this disaster soon reached 
the lew families planted in Hillsborough, filling them with consterna- 
tion and alarm. They had no stronghold within the settlement to 
which they could retreat for safety. Indians were seen prowling 
al)out the falls of the Contoocook river, near where the great bridge 
now stands, at the Bridge village. This fact very qaturally induced 
the supposition that a party of the enemy were concealed in the vi- 
cinity awaiting a favorable moment to attack them. 

Hastily consulting together, they determined to abandon their set- 
tlement, and remove to a place of greater security. After burying their 
heavier articles of furniture and implements of husbandry, they com- 
menced their flight,^taking with them their lighter utensils, and driv- 
ing their cattle before them. Philip Riley accompanied them. He 
was the first settler and then the only inhabitant of Antrim. Two 
years before he had began a clearing on the lot now forming the home- 
stead of Hon. Jacob VVhittemore. 

The first settlement of Hillsborough, had been commenced under 
the auspices of the proprietors, Messrs. Hill and Keyes, who had 
erected a Meeting house of frame work, and a building, intended for 
a parsonage near it. This church stood on the west side of the road 
leading h-om the Centre village to that at the Bridge, and it is believ- 
ed upon the spot now occupied by the barn of Mr. Seth Clark. The 
parsonage stood on the site of Mr. Clark's dwelling house. An ex- 
cellent church bell designed for this forest girt sanctuary was purcha- 
sed by Col. Hill, but was never brought here as the settlement was 
soon after abandoned, and the Meetinghouse burned. The chime of 
this same bell has lon^ echoed among other hills than these, and sum- 
moned another people than this, to worship the God of their fathers. 
It is now upon one of the churches in Groton, Mass. A plat was al- 
loted for a burial ground contiguous to this Meeting house, and sev- 
eral persons who died during the first settlement were interred in it. 
No vestige of their last resting place now remains to remind us that 
once they were. 

The names of the first party that settled here were James McCol- 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 13 

ley, Samuel Gibson, Robert McClurc, James Lyon, and others, 
whose names have not descended to us. They were immediately 
from the vicinity of Boston. McColley, and IMcClure however,and 
perhaps others of the party, were natives of Ireland. The wife of 
James McColle}'-, was the only woman in the setdement for the first 
year ; nor during this time was her vision greeted, by the sight of a 
single female. McColley erected the first habitation which was rude- 
ly constructed of logs, and stood on the ground now occupied by 
the residence of Mr. Cyrus Sargent, at the Bridge, and by the side 
of a huge rock which was blasted in 1524. The first child born in 
town, was the late Lieut. John McColley, who first saw the light in 
this log hut, January 18th, 1742. The second person born here was 
Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Gibson, who was born May 19th, of 
the same year, in a log house, near the site of the dwelling of Mr. 
Benjamin Spaulding. These children went to Litchfield with their 
parents at the breaking up of the first settlement, where they resided 
until 1763. After the commencement oi the second settlenrent of 
Hillsborough, Col. Hill who frequently travelled through Litchfield, 
on his way from Boston to Hillsborough, became acquainted with 
these young people, and proposed to them that they should marry 
each other, and as an inducement offered them one hundred acres of 
land in Hillsborough, if they would accede to his proposition. They 
complied, were married, and removed to Hillsborough, when they re- 
ceived the hundred acre tract, and lived in the enjoyment of domestic 
felicity for more than sixty years. 

At an early age Lieut. McColley entered the service of the King, 
while New-Hampshire was a colony against the French and Indians, 
and was present at some of their most desperate engagements. He 
was afterwards in the war of the revolution among the New-Hamp- 
shire militia that was called out to meet Burgoyne's army. By his 
correct habits, his benevolence, and integrity of character, he secur- 
ed through a long life the esteem of his fellow citizens. He died 
Dec. 22, 1834, at the advanced age of ninety-two. — At the time of 
llie dissolution of the first settlement, the number of families was not 
less than eight or ten. They had located themselves at six difierent 



14 ANNALS OP THE TOWis 

j)lace3 in the town ; the most northerly on the farm now constituting 
the homestead of Mr. Benjamin Kimball ; the most westerly on Bi- 
ble hill. None of the first settlers ever returned to Hillsborough to 
reside permanently. Robert McClure came here about the year 
177.5, and laid claim to his land. He remained however but a short 
time. Several of the children of the first colonists afterwards estab- 
lished themselves in the town, and their descendants are among its 
present inhabitants. 

For more than fifteen years from the dispersion of the first settlers 
in 1746, the town was destitute of inhabitants. The conquest of 
Canada, and the termination ol the second French v/ar in 1760, 
liaving removed the danger of savage incursions, the second settle- 
ment of the town was commenced under more favorable circumstan- 
ces than the first. During the interval which elapsed between these 
two periods, Col. Hill had become sole proprietor of the town. Hg 
derived his title from a grant of Massachusetts while she had authori- 
ty over this section of New-Hampshire, confirmed by a quitclaim 
from the Masonian proprietors. In 1763, he employed the late 
Daniel Campbell, Esq. of Amherst to survey the town into lots which 
he did, with an accuracy, unusual at that period. The second set- 
tlement was commenced about the year 1762 by Daniel McIMurphy, 
who came from Cheshire, now Chester in this State, and fixed his 
residence on Bible Hill- The traces of his cellar are yet visible in 
the orchard of Deacon F. W. Symonds. On one occasion he was 
absent at Cheshire more than two weeks, leaving his wife entirely 
alone with no human habitation nearer than New Boston. How 
desolate must have been her situation, in this dreary solitude ! She 
afterwards related that on one occasion so overpowered was she by 
a sense of her loneliness, and so desirous to hear the sound of a 
human voice answering to her own, that at midnight, when no sound 
was audible, save the distant howl of the famished wolf, and the dis- 
mal moan of the waving pine — she went forth from her hut and cried 
aloud at the height of her voice, that she might hear the responsive 
echo resounding through the dim aisles of the forest. Mr. McMur- 
pijy a few years subsequent removed to the town of Hill in Grafton 
County. Within one or two years from the date of McMurphy's es- 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 15 

tabllsliment in Hillsborough, he was followed by other settlers. The 
individuals whose names follow, were heads of families in 17G7, five 
years after JVJcMurphy located himself here : — John INIcColley, Capt. 
Samuel Bradford, senior, Lieut. Samuel Bradford, Jonathan Durant, 
Joshua Easty, Timothy Wilkins, John Gibson, Samuel Gibson, 
William Williams, Benjamin Lovejoy, Wilham Pope, Jonathan Sar- 
gent, Moses Steel, Isaac Baldwin, William Taggart, Isaac Andrews. 
Of these, IMcColley and the two Gibsons were from Litchfield, 
sons of the first settlers of the town. Capt. S. Bradford, sen., was 
from Middleton, Ms. where he had kept a public house, He set- 
tled on Bible hill, was the first tavern-keeper — was captain of the 
first company of militia formed in the town, and built the first saw 
and grist mill in the town. He died in August 1776, universally re- 
spected. Lieut. Samuel Bradford, (no connexion of the last nam- 
ed) was from Amherst in this state, married Anna daughter of John 
Washer of Amherst, who died in 1833 at an advanced age. Lieut, 
radford died in Antrim Feb. 5th, 1813, aged 74, Jonathan Durant 
was from Billerica Mass. Joshua Easty from Middleton, Mass. — 
Timothy Wilkins was from Carlisle, Mass. settled on the farm now 
occupied by Mr. Ebenezer Jones. He returned to Carlisle and died 
there. William Williams was from Sudbury, Mass. and died here. 
Benjamin Lovejoy was from Amherst, removed from Hillsborough 
to Westminster, V^t. William Pope and Isaac Baldwin were from 
Sudbury, Mass. Jonathan Sargent was from Bradford, Mass. 
Isaac Andrews from Carlisle, Mass. and Moses Steel from London- 
derry. William Taggart was from Derryfield, now Manchester. 

When the second settlement was commenced, a young growth of 
wood had sprung up over the clearings of the former settlers — one 
house only (the parsonage) remained, every other dwelling had been 
burned by the Indians. The best authenticated account of the de- 
struction of the meeting-house, is that a man by the name of Keyes, 
from Weare, who happened this way, having secured the glass, which 
he buried, set the house on fire, for the mere gratification of seeing 
it burn. 

Ample proof is furnished, that this town was much visited by the 



^ 



16 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

Indians ; doubtless of the Penacook tribe by the various relics such 
as spoons or ladles, probably used in eating — pestles with which thej' 
pulverised their corn ; tomahawks, hooks, he. all wrought of stone, 
which have been frequently upturned by the plough of the husband- 
man, from the light soil on banks of the streams. 

In 1772 the town was incorporated. There being at that time 
twenty-two freeholders in the place. Isaac Andrews, Esq. was the 
agent of the inhabitants in procuring the act. He employed the 
Rev. James Scales, the first minister in Hopkinton, to draft a peti- 
tion to the Governor and Council for a charter of incorporation. The 
Charter bears date Nov. 14, 1772, and was issued in the name of 
" George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France 
and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &ic. by and with the advice 
of our trusty and well-beloved John Wentworth, Esquire, Governor 
and commander in chief, of our province of New-Hampshire." The 
boundaries of the town given in this instrument are as follows, viz. 
Beginning at the southeast corner at a beach tree marked 7, from 
thence south, 84 degrees and 30 minutes west, about 6 miles by the 
society lands so called, to a beech tree marked 7, and 8, from thence 
84 degrees and 30 minutes east, about 6 miles to a beech tree mark- 
ed 7, from thence, about 6 miles by the town of Henniker to the 
bounds first mentioned. All the white pine trees there, being and 
growing in the town were reserved in the charter for the use of the 
Royal Navy. This reservation was not very favorably regarded by 
the people. In the preceding month of April of that year, " Mr. 
Sheriff Whiting, the first high Sheriff of the County of Hillsborough, 
had proceeded to the neighboring town of Weare, to arrest one 
Mudgett, who had been charged with the heinous crime of trespass- 
ing on the king's timber, — or of cutting some goodly tree on his own 
land, which might have made a very pretty mast for his Majesty's 
Navy, Mudgett, being arrested late in the afternoon, requested the 
sheriff to wait until the next morning, when he would procure satis- 
factory bail. Early the next morning, a mob collected and adminis- 
tered a portion of the Law Lynch, by beating the sheriff, (and after 
they had trimmed his steed's mane, tail, and ears — and seated him 



OP IIILLSCOROUGH. 17 

in his saddle in a position, the reverse of that usual for Equestrians) — 
escorted him out of town." 

Col. Hill, paid Gov. Wontworth what would in our present New- 
England currency, amount to more than fifty dollars, as a fee, for 
signing the charter, upon condition that the town should take the 
name of Hillborough in honor of himself. It accordingly received 
this name in the charter. It soon however acquired the name of 
Hillsborough, by conventional usage, and the s, lias, ever since been 
inserted. Perhaps, from the circumstance, that the county was call- 
ed Hillsborough, which name is supposed to be derived from Wills 
Hills, the Earl of Hillsborough, who was one of the privy council 
of George the 'J'hird, and whose residence was at Hillsborough in 
the county of Down in Ireland. The town had originally borne the 
name of Number Seven, of the frontier towns. The first meeting 
under the charter was holden Nov. 24th, 1772, at the Inn of Caj)!. 
Samuel Bradford, senior, on Bible hill. Capt. Isaac Baldwin, who 
liad been authorised to call the first meeting of the inhabitants, pre- 
sided as moderator. 1st. It was voted to accept of the charter. 
Isaac Andrews was elected town clerk, and Isaac Andrews, John 
McColley, Daniel IMcNeil, Isaac Baldwin, and William Pope, were 
chosen selectmen. 

During the fifteen years that elapsed after the second scttleinont 
was begun, before the erection of a house of worship, the inhabitants 
were accustomed to assemble for religious services in a barn during 
the warm season, and in the winter they met in a dwelling-house. 
Col. Hill gave ten acres of land near the centre of the town for the 
site of a meeting-house, burial ground, and common. He also re- 
served between two and three hundred acres of land, as a gift to the 
first settled minister in the town. His impaired fortunes prevented 
further benefactions. 

In the autumn ol 1772, a proposal was made by the church and 
town Unitedly, to the Rev. Jonathan Barnes to settle with them in 
the gospel ministry, to which he acceded and was ordained Nov. 25ih, 
of that year in the barn of Lieut. Samuel Bradford, on Bible liill ; 
the same that was burnt by lightning in July 1831. The ladies 



18 ANXALS OF THE TOWS 

were accommodated witli seats in the centre. This beautiful emi- 
nence received the appellation of Bible hill, from the circumstance 
that for a considerable period the only large Bibles in the town were 
owned by Deacons Isaac Andrews, and Joseph Symonds who resid- 
ed upon this hill. 

The vote for building the second Meeting-house in Hillsborough, 
was passed May 4th, 1773. The town voted to build a Meeting- 
house on the land which Col. Hill gave for the purpose of the fol- 
lowing dimensions : 35 feet in length, 30 wide, and one story 
high. It was not completed until 1779, so as to be used for meet- 
ings. Public worship was probably held in it while in an unfinished 
stale, as u-e are told that the Rev. Mr. Barnes went home with his 
boots filled with water, which had fallen upon him while preaching in 
it during a violent shower. This edifice was occupied as a church 
until the present town-house was finished, in 1792. It stood a little 
north of that building, in the centre of the church yard. The Rev. 
Mr. Barnes was buried on the precise spot where the pulpit had 
stood. It was removed in 1794, to a site a few rods south of the 
vestry, where it was fitted up for a school-house. David Dodge, 
Esq., now of Charlestown, IMass., kept a select school in it for sev- 
eral years, which was in high repute. 

In 1789, it was voted in town meeting to build a new house of 
wors^iip G2 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 2 stories high, with three 
porches, and a committee of three were appointed to superintend its 
erection. It was raised in September, 1789, but not completed for 
two or three years. Deacon Ephraim Barker of Amherst, who died 
m the year 1800, was the master workman. The raising of a Meet- 
ing-house, was in'those days an event of no ordinary interest. It 
was considered the work of two days. A great note of preparation 
was sounded ; and people came from distant towns to witness the 
spectacle ; a committee were appointed raisers, and ample provision 
made to entertain strangers. This spacious temple was the third 
Meeting-house erected in town. It is now used as a town-house. 
At this period before people had become so delicate and luxurious 
as now, there was no fire in the church in v/inter= It was first intro- 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 19 

duced about the year 1820. For many years the meetings in the 
winter were held in the Rev. Mr. Barnes's kitchen, a much more 
comfortable place we may very readily suppose, than a large, cold 
cheerless house. 

la 1775, hostilities between this country and Great-Britain were 
commenced. At this period the settlement contained but 40 families. 
Their number was considerably augmented, by emigration, before 
the close of the war. The spirit of resistance to the oppressive 
measures of the British government, extended even to this remote 
settlement among the hills. The inhabitants of this town entered 
with patriotic ardor into the excitement of the contest. They con- 
tributed their full quota of men, and means to prosecute the war. 
March 30th, 1775, it was voted, in town meeting, to procure a town 
stock of ammunition in anticipation of the approaciiing conflict. June 
14th, 1775, in compliance with a recommendation of Congress, a 
committee of inspection, or safety was chosen, consisting of three 
persons, viz : Capt. Samuel Bradford, sen., Timothy Wilkins, and 
Samuel Bradford, jun. In August of the same year, the Kev. Mr. 
Barnes in consideration of the extraordinary difficulties under which 
they then labored, relinquished a portion of his salary for that year, 
to the town, as a free gift. March 3 1st, 1777, it was voted to carry 
on their proportion of the war by turns, which vote was annuled, 
August 5th, 1779. Sept. 22, 1780, it was voted to assess nine 
thousand seven hundred and two pounds, on the inhabitants of the 
town, to'purchase beef for the American army. It seems unneces- 
sary, to record further the proceedings of the town in relation to the 
various events of the war. A majority of the able bodied men in the 
town served in the army personally, many others by substitute. A 
list of those who engaged in the service horn Hillsborough is here 
presented. Isaac Baldwin, Ammi Andrews, Isaac Andrews, jun'r. 
Moses Steel, William Pope, Thomas Murdough, Samuel Murdongli, 
Solomon Andrews, John McNeil, Silas Cooledge, Samuel Bradford, 
junr., John McColley, Samuel Symonds, William Booth, Asa Wil- 
kins, Nathan Taylor, William Taggart, James Taggait, Archibald 
Tajgart, Joseph Tag2;art, John Taggart, Robert T:igir;u!, Nathaniel 



20 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

Jolinson, Jacob Flint, James Gibson, William Jones, jun., Baxter 
How. This list is by no means complete. Twenty-seven only are 
here enumerated ; probably more than thirty from the town were 
personally engaged in the service during the war. This will give us 
a very favorable idea of the patriotism of our citizens, if we bear in 
mind that the number of rateable polls did not at any time during the 
war, exceed forty-three. The brave Capt. Isaac Baldwin of the list, 
given above, was born in Sudbury, Mass., in 173G. He married 
Eunice Jennison of Natick, Mass., and removed to Hillsborough in 
17GC — being the fifth family that came into the town, after the sec- 
ond settlement. Capt. B. had been a fellow-soldier with the immor- 
tal Stark, in the renowned company of rangers, commanded by 
JMaj. Robert Rogers, during the old French and Indian war. It is 
stated in Everett's life of Stark, that Baldwin had fought in twenty 
battles, in former wars. Wiiilc framing a barn in Deering, the tid- 
ings of the battle of Lexington, were communicated to him. He 
hastened to his home and collected a band of volunteers who imme- 
diately set out for the scene of action. On reaching Hollis they were 
informed that a British fleet had commenced an attack upon Ports- 
mouth. On hearing this, they turned their course, and had proceed- 
ed to Thornton's Ferry, in Merrimack, where they learned that the 
rumor was false. On being assured of this, they again pursued their 
course in the direction of Boston. They stopped over the sabbath, 
in Billerica, IMass. where they attended church in a body, and lis- 
tened to a patriotic discourse from the Rev. Dr. Henry Cummin^s, 
then minister of that town. Soon after their arrival at head quarters 
ol the American army, a large company was enrolled under the com- 
mand of Captain Baldwin, John Hale of Hopkinton was Lieutenant, 
and Stephen Hoit, (father to General Hoit of Sandwich, Ensign.) 
This company, which belonged to Col. Stark's regiment, was com- 
posed principally of volunteers from the towns of Hopkinton, Hills- 
borough, and Henniker. They quartered at Mcdford, June 17th, 
1775, the day of the battle of Bunker-hiJl. They were detached 
Avith several other companies, from Medford to the battle ground, on 
Bunker-hill. About 12 o'clock at noon, the valiant Maj. Andrew 



OF IIILLSBOROL'GH. 21 

JNIcClary from Epsom had command of this detachmenl. Captain 
Baldwin was mortally wounded about 1 o'clock, P. M., by a musket 
ball which lodged in his breast. He was immediately borne from the 
hill by two privates of his company, Lt. John M'Neil, and James 
Gibson, and died about sunset. Alter his death, the fatal ball was 
extracted by Lieut. Ammi Andrews, who sent it to his widow — a sad 
memento of that dire event, which made her a widow, and her chil- 
dren fatherless. His remains were interred in the burial ground, in 
Medford, Mass. He left a wife and four children, and a fifth was 
born several weeks after his decease. The intelligence of Captain 
Baldwin's death filled the peaceful community where he resided with 
grief, and mourning. Deeply did they sympathize with his heart- 
stricken widow. He was emphatically the pride of his townsmen. 
His kind heart, cheerful disposition, and amiable manners, had great- 
ly endeared him to his fellow-citizens. Truly may it be said of him, 
None knew him but to love him, " none named him but to praise." 

Lieut. Ammi Andrews, was another revolutionary worthy of our 
town- He was born in Ipswich, Mass. but came to Hillsborough 
when a young man and settled on the land, now occupied by the Up- 
per village. At one period of his life he was the proprietor of the 
whole site of that village, and of the circumjacent land to a consider- 
able extent. Lieut. Andrews served through the whole of the revo- 
lulioary war, with the rank of a lieutenant. He .shared with Col. 
Arnold, the dangers and privations, of the memorable expedition to 
Quebec, 1775, where he was taken prisoner, by the British, but soon 
afterwards exchanged. He was wounded in several engagements 
and exhibited signal valor, and untiring vigilance in fighting the battles 
of his country. Many daring exploits, which he achieved in perilous 
situations, during that contest are related of him. One incident of 
Uiis description is narrated as follows. While the American army 
lay encamped in winter quarters, in the latter part of the winter of 
1775, — 7G, three miles from the city of Quebec, Col. Arnold wish- 
ed to ascertain the strength and position of the British garrison, that 
he might be able to judge of the expediency of again attempting the 
1 eduction of the city. The only possible method of gaining this in- 



22 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

telligence, was by the capture of a British sentinel. He intimated 
his desire to his soldiers, and Lieut. Andrews volunteered his servi- 
ces for the undertaking. It was suggested by one that he ought to 
be provided with the best gun in the army. " Is it a living, or a dead 
man, that you wish ?" inquired the lieutenant. " If you request one 
alive, I do not wish to be encumbered with a gun," Scaling the walls 
of the city in the darkness of the night, he awaited a favorable mo- 
ment to seize the sentry, who was pacing his lonely round, armed 
with a musket. Lieut. A. sprang upon him and grappled him by the 
throat assuring him that his life depended upon his silence. Descend- 
ing the precipice very cautiously, he escorted his prisoner three miles 
through the snow, to the American camp. Lieut. Andrews died 
March 30, 1833, at the age of 97. 

Capt. Samuel Bradford, Jr., son of Capt. Samuel Bradford, sen'r 
was a native of Middleton, Mass., but removed when quite young to 
Hillsborough, with his parents. At the commencement of the revo- 
lutionary war, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in Capt. Baldwin's 
company as an orderly sergeant. After the battle of Bunker hill he 
received an ensign's commission, — performed adjutant's duty, for 
more than two years in Stark's regiment, and before the close of the 
war, was appointed a lieutenant. He served through most of that 
struggle, and was in many of its severest engagements. The urbani- 
ty of his manners, the probity of his character, and those patriotic 
services in the war that secured our liberties, won for him the esteem 
and respect, of the the circle of acquaintance in which he moved. 
He died in Acworth, July 23, 1833, aged 80 years. 

Lieut. John McNeil, was a native of Derryfield, now Manchester, 
where he was born in 17.56. He was the son of Daniel McNeil, who 
removed from Manchester to Hillsborough, in 1771, and settled on 
the farm now occupied by Dca. Tristram Sawyer, He was acciden- 
tally drowned in 1790. Lieut. McNeil was a private in Capt. Bald- 
win's company in the battle of Bunker hill, and assisted in convey- 
ing that lamented oflicer from the field, after he was mortally wound- 
ed. He served several years in the war, and was in tiie battle of 
Benniiijiion. Lieut. McNeil hved lo an advanced age, engaged in 



OF HILLSBOROl'GH, 23 

the peaceful avocations of husbandry, sustaining the relations of a 
father, and a citizen, with the respect of society, and the deep regard 
of children, who will ever cherish his remembrance, with filial grati- 
tude. He died, Sept. 29, 1836, aged 79 years. He married Lucy, 
eldest daughter of Isaac Andrews, Esq., who yet survives him. 
Their children were Mary, who married James Wilson, Esq., born 
July 6, J 779. Gen. Solomon McNeil, born Jan. 15, 17S2. Gen. 
John McNeil, born March 25, J 784. Lucy, born in April 1786, 
and died in infancy. 

V Two of the soldiers from Hillsborough, Lt. Ammi Andrews, and 
James Taggart, accompanied Gen. Arnold, (then Colonel) in his 
dreary march to Quebec. In 1781, when a requisition was made, 
by General Washington for more troops, the town, in order to en- 
courage men to volunteer, gave a bounty to a number who enlisted. 
This bounty was more than equivalent to what a laboring man would 
have received, if he had remained at home to work on a farm. On 
account of the great depreciation of the currency, it was deemed 
more just to the soldiers, and for the town, to pay this bounty in 
something not subject to such diminution in value as the continental 
money. This bounty was entirely independent of the regular pay 
they received. It was agreed that each soldier should receive twen- 
ty head of cattle, to be as many months old, as he should serve months 
in the army, the payment to be made at the termination of his period 
of service. A bond was given by the town, for the payment of this 
bounty. The paper currency, known as continental money, continu- 
ed to depreciate till near the close of the war, when it had fallen so 
low that a hundred dollars in paper, were worth but one in silver, so 
much had it depreciated, that Mr. Daniel Killom paid $10,000, for a 
farm worth, perhaps .flOO, in specie. He sold another farm, and re- 
ceived his pay in rye, at $75,00 a bushel. The price of a meal of 
pork and potatoes was $50,00, and the salary of the Rev. Mr. Barnes, 
w'as one year, only sufficient to purchase him a pig, although the town 
indemnified him, to the lull amount of his salary. As loans and sup- 
plies from Europe, introduced a metalic currency, the paper ceased 



24 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

lo circulate; but not till it Imd involvcfl in absolute ruin, many indi- 
viduals. 

Col. John Hill, the original proprietor and early patron of the town, 
<licd in 1776, at his residence in Boston. At one period of his life 
he was a man of considerable affluence, but subsequently embarked 
in an enterprise, which promised to be of considerable advantage to 
the city of his abode. It did not, however, realize the expectations 
of its prosecutors, and consequently, involved him in a pecuniary em- 
barrassment. He was a man of considerable prominence in Boston, 
of dignified deportment and urbane manners. He frequently visited 
Hillsborough, and was received by the inhabitants with the most re- 
spectful deference. For many years his stated price for land was fif- 
ty cents an acre. Several extensive lots, in the north east part of the 
town, were mortgaged by him, to secure individuals who had loaned 
him money, which he was never able to pay and, consequently, the 
land went into the possession of his creditors. In this manner, Gov. 
James Bowdoin, of Massachusetts, acquired one thousand acres, in 
the northeast section of the town ; and a Mr. Green of Boston, a 
tract of eight hundred. The first settlement, made in this part of 
the town, was commenced by John Hartwell from Concord, Mass. 
and Thaddeus Munroe, from Carlisle, who came here in 1780, ac- 
companied by their families. 

The first bridge over the Contoocook river built in Hillsborough, 
was erected of wood in 1779, on the site of the present stone bridge, 
and was reconstructed in 1796. Daniel McNeil was employed by the 
town, as architect to rebuild the same in 1809. The town deeming 
it advisable to have a bridge of more substantial material ; constructed 
in 1824 a bridge of split stone, excepting forty feet in the middle 
which was built of wood. Mr. Squires F. Clement, supervised this 
work. In 1839, this bridge was elevated five feet, with a new stone 
ralhng, and the present elegant granite arch substituted in lieu of the 
wood work of the former bridge. Messrs. Reed and Thompson of 
Keene were the contractors. January 21, 178S, Lieut. Robert B. 
Wilkins was chosen as delegate from Hillsborough in cunjunction, 
with Henniker, to attend the convention, which sat at Exetei', in Feb- 



OF HILLBBOROUGH. 25 

ruary of that year, for the purpose of deciding, so far as it respected 
New-Hampshire, the momentous question of adopting, or rejecting 
the Federal Constitution. Lieut. Wilkins resided at the Bridge vil- 
Inge several years. He was a native of Amherst and removed from 
this town to Concord, and thence to Boston, about one year prior to 
his death, which occurred in August 1832, at the age of seventy- 
seven years. Lieut. W. was characterized by an inexhaustible fund 
of humour, and great powers of anecdote, which rendered him an 
agreeable companion in the social circle. He entered the service ol 
bis country at the commencement of the Revolutionary war, and serv- 
ed until its close, with a high reputation as a heroic officer. He was 
wounded in the batde of Bunker bill. Through the year 1780, he 
officiated as quarter-master, in the detachment commanded by Gen. 
Lafayette, and during this time, became intimately acquainted 
with that illustrious officer, and was presented by him with the entire 
suit of an officer for his daring exploit, in taking some cattle from the 
British at their fort at Poules Hook, opposite New York city. Lt. 
W. was a great favorite with the officers of his regiment, who famil- 
iarly styled him "Bob Wilkes." When Gen. Lafayette visited Con- 
cord in 1825, Lieut. Wilkins was formally introduced to him as one 
of his former companions in arms. The lapse of nearly half a century 
had wrought such changes on his person, that the General did not at 
first recognise him. An allusion by the lieutenant, to some incident 
which occurred during their intercourse in the army, at once revived 
his recollection, and he fell upon his neck and tenderly embraced him 
exclaiming, " Oh, Bob Wilkes, Bob Wilkes." Both were visibly af- 
fected, and Lafayette wept audibly. The interview was witnessed 
with intense interest by the bystanders. 

In October 17S5, Joseph Symonds was chosen by the town to pre- 
sent their petitions to the General Assembly of the State ; and I 
have been informed that he served as delegate to that body, from 
Hillsborough two or more years, although there is no mention made 
of it in the town records. In 1791, Benjamin Pierce was elected to 
represent the town in the convention holden for the revision of the 
constitution of New Hampshire. 

D 



26 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

It may be proper to glance for a moment, at the habits, manners, 
and customs of the earlier inhabitants of Hillsborough. The majority 
of them were of the Puritan stock ; and they inherited much of the 
self denying spirit which distinguished that noble race of men. An- 
other considerable portion of the early settlers, were of the London- 
derry stock, which emigrated from the north of Ireland, their ances- 
tors being originally from Scotland. In the seventeenth century con- 
siderable numbers of the Scotch were induced, by large grants of 
land, from James the First, to settle in the north of Ireland, where 
their posterity remained, distinct from the inhabhants of that country- 
They were Scotch Presbyterians, and with the hope of enjoying 
their religious liberty, they came to America about the year 1718. 
They subsequently settled in Londonderry, whence some of the first 
inhabitants of Hillsborough emigrated. The McNeil's, the McClin- 
tock's, the McClary's, the McColley's, the McClure's, the Cunning- 
ham's, the McAlisters's, the Taggart's, the Steele's, the Wilson's, 
the Gibson's, the Houston's, and several other families were of this 
origin. They were an active, cool headed, warm hearted, mirth lov- 
ing people. Descended as most of them were from the Pilgrims, 
and Scoth covenanters, they had been trained to habits of industry, 
perseverance, and self denial, which peculiarly fitted them for pion- 
eers in the wilderness. When we take into view the difficulties they 
encountered, vto almost wonder at the courage and hardihood dis- 
played in surmounting them. Their lands were encumbered with 
thick forests. They had no roads save paths marked by spotted trees. 
They endured hardships almost inconceivable in transporting their 
necessaries over these rough ways. We are told diat it required three 
men to steady the vehicle which conveyed the furniture of the Rev. 
Mv. Barnes, from Aralierst to this town. They had no bridges, but 
wore obliged to ford the streams which were often swollen, so as to 
be impassable. They j^ossessed but few implements of husbandry. 
Their dwellings were at first rude huts, built of logs and furnished with 
none of the luxuries, and comparatively few, of the conveniences of life. 

"Through years of toil, through years of want, 
Tliey bravely struggled on ; 
And lo ! the forest melts away, 
I'hc sturdy pines are gone." 



OF HILLHDOROIGII. 27 

Their manner of living was extremely simple. When they had 
milk, a considerable part of their food was bread and milk. In the 
winter when they had no milk, they made great account of bean 
porridge, samp broth, pork, and beans, &c. Tea, coffee, sugar and 
molasses, were dainties which they seldom afforded ; and equally re- 
moved from the extravagance of modern times, was their style of 
dress. In those days, a man deemed a suit manufactured by his wife 
or daughter, sufficiently good for him to wear on most occasions, and 
our grandmothers made their afternoon visits in a short loose gown, 
with a checked apron, and neck kerchief, which their own hands had 
spun. For a number of years after the settlement of the town, no 
carriages were used, and all journies were performed on horse back. 
The good man and his wife were accustomed to ride to church upon 
the same horse ; she sitting on a pillion behind him, and not unfre- 
quently carrying a child in her arms ; while another, was mounted on 
the pommel of the saddle before its fatlier, No person thought of 
purchasing, or exchanging a horse without making the inquiiy, " can 
she carry double ?" as some, otherwise valuable animals were in the 
liabit of elevating their heels, to testify their displeasure at being thus 
double jaded. In winter when the snow was deep, a pair of oxen 
were attached to a sled, and the whole family rode to meeting upon 
an oxsled. Sometimes too, an entire household, seated upon an ox- 
sled, would set out in the morning to spend the day with a friend six 
or seven miles distant. What would our railroad travellers in these 
days say to "such a mode of conveyance ? But alas ! the day of in- 
vention had not then arrived. Steam had not then as now, been made 
to expedite every kind of business, even to that of ridding the doc- 
tor of his patients. In former days, greater quantities of snow fell 
in winter than now, and snow shoes were much in vogue. About 
forty years since sleighs took the place of sleds. At first double 
sleighs were used of sufficient size to accommodate six or eight per- 
sons. Single cutters were soon after introduced. Waggons were 
substituted for riding on horse back, about the year IS 12. The first 
chaise owned in town, belonged to IMr. John Shed, antl the second, 
10 Dea. Joseph Symonds. These were introduced ubout the year 



28 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

1806. Inured to constant labor and exposure the first settlers here 
were a hardy race. They were not ashamed to bear the reputation 
of working men. On the contrary, indolence was a lasting dis- 
grace. The females assisted in what they termed the lighter out- 
door work, such as raking hay, pulling flax, &;c. It is authentically 
stated that the wife of Thomas Murdough, the first settler on the farm 
now owned by the town, as the poor farm, was accustomed to travel 
twice daily, nearly three miles through the woods to Maj. Andrews's 
to milk her cows, when the weather would permit. What language 
would this hardy grandmother and her cotemporaries, employ in ad- 
dressing a rebuke to some young ladies of this degenerate age, who 
not only deem it quite ungenteel to milk at all, but who flee from the 
presence of the harmless cows as from beasts of prey. 

The n>arriage ceremony was most commonly performed at the 
house of the clergyman, after which the newly married couple mount- 
ed upon one horse and rode lovingly to their habitation. Not unfre- 
quently as they passed along they were saluted from the various 
dwellings on the way by the firing of muskets. This custom, how- 
ever, pertained only to the Scotch Irish portion of the people. They 
were met by a party of their friends, who accompanied them to their 
home, where the evening was passed in every species of jolity and 
mirth. Among the amusements common at that period, may be 
mentioned, quilting parties. The young women assembled in the 
afternoon and plied their needles industriously till evening, when the 
young men came in, and country dances filled up the remainder of 
the evening. In Autumn, husking frolics, terminated by a dance, 
furnished fine amusement. Somewhat later the apple bee became 
common. Dancing parties have always been customary, but are 
much less so now than formerly. Balls, and sleigh rides, have ever 
bsen favorite 'pastimes. 

Notwithstanding the sagacity, and good sense possessed by the 
earlier inhabitants, most of them religiously believed in the existence 
of witches, and the appearance of ghosts. JMany too, doubted not 
that the evil one sometimes assumed a bodily form, and honored 
those whose conduct n)et his approbation, with a personal interview. 



OF IIILLSDOROUGH. 29 

Mrs. Robinson, whose husband kept a tavern at the top of a high hill 
in Deering, was among the noted witches of this vicinity. As our 
townsmen were ascending this hill with loaded teams, their cattle 
would suddenly halt ; nor could they be induced to move until the 
teamster had gone to the tavern for a glass of toddy, when they 
would go briskly forward. It was really supposed that Mrs. Robin- 
son compelled the beasts to stop until she had sold their driver a lit- 
tle of " something to drink," when the spell was removed. It is ap- 
prehended that this is not the only tavern, where witches have re- 
sided. Another reputed witch, was a Mrs. Gilchrist of Irish extrac- 
tion, who dwelt alone in a small house in the southwest part of the 
town. She was in aspect, such a person as would be generally se- 
lected for a witch ; — being a small, lean, sallow, shrivelled, old wo- 
man, universally known as " Aunt Jenny." If any of her neighbors 
liad difficulty in bringing their butter it was ascribed to the evil in ^ 
flucnce of " Aunt Jenny," whereupon they would heat a horseshoe 
red hot, and cast it into the churn. The moment this was done an- 
other person, who stood ready at the door, would run with all possi- 
ble speed and peep in at hqr window to see if she was not burned 
by the horse shoe. One of her neighbors to whom she was no 
friend, was suddenly prostrated to the lloor unable to move. One 
person who was present remarked, that she did not beheve that any 
power on earth could raise him from the floor. After summoning a 
council of their relatives, it was concluded to send for the minister 
to come and pray with him. At the mention of prayer the charm 
was dissolved, and he arose from the floor. On another occasion, 
one of Aunt Jenny's neighbors was passing her cottage, with an ox- 
cart, containing three barrels of cider, when on a sudden, the pin 
which fastened the cart to the yoke, although the head of it was 
much larger than the hole in which it was inserted, dropped through 
and disengaged the oxen from the cart ; nor could he by any means get 
started again, until he had presented Aunt Jenny, with one of his 
barrels of cider. Anodier instance of Aunt Jenny's evil agency, is 
gravely related as follows : some young ladies, wlio lived on the op- 
posite side of the way from the old woman, and who had in some 



30 Annals of the town 

way offended her, intended to lidc out one summer's afternoon, and 
for this purpose had the iiorse put into the barn. Aunt Jenny said 
to them in her Irish brogue, " May be ye'II nae gie there ;" and sure 
enough, they did not ; for on going to the barn to tackle the horse, 
which was usually steady, and unaccustomed to such pranks, escap- 
ed at a small stable window, and after performing various anticks, 
capered off at a furious pace, for more than three miles, and it em- 
ployed several men a number of hours in securing it. An individu- 
al in her vicinity becoming enraged at an old sheep in his flock, 
which exhibited symptoms analogous to hydrophobia, struck it a vio- 
lent blow which fractured one of its legs. Immediately Aunt Jen- 
ny fell to the floor of her cottage, and after lingering a few weeks in 
great agony, expired. One of the neighbors who was employed to 
watch at her bed-side during the night, was strictly charged by a 
good woman of the neighborhood, believing that Aunt Jenny's end 
drew nigh, not to leave her, as she had heard that witches never suf- 
fered any one to witness their death, and was anxious to test the 
truth of this current belief Once in the night he left her bedside 
for a moment to get a paper from a table which stood near. His 
attention was withdrawn but a few seconds, but when he again di- 
rected his glance to her, she was dead. These are a few of the 
many samples given us of the wonderful power of witches. Horse- 
shoes, witch-hazel rods, and silver, were considered effectual pre- 
ventives of their evil influence. I would by no means convey the 
impression that the people of Hillsborough were particularly super- 
stitious. It is apprehended that the annalist of nearly every town in 
New-England, of the same population, might relate quite as many, 
if not more instances of the gross delusion of witch-craft which 
prevailed so extensively a century since, and which appears to have 
been so deeply imbedded in the popular mind. The increasing in- 
fluence of popular education, is rapidly doing away these errors,* and 
superstitions 

The situation of the town with respect to education, is very difler- 



* To any who in;iv believe tlial witchcraft is not a supeistitioaa fall.icy, the perusal of 
a bookcniilled, " f.ccturcs on the Snlciu '• Witchcraft/' by the Kcv. Charles \V. Upham 
of that city, is res]'t.'clfully commended. 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 31 

eiu from its state fifty and sixty years ago. The first school kept in 
Hillsborough, was taught by George Bemaine, about the year 1770, 
in a log school-house which stood a [ew rods west of Mr. Daniel 
Templeton's, on the north side of the road leading from the Lower 
village to the Bridge. Bemaines was a native of England ; but 
came to this country in early life with his parents, who belonged to 
the British army. He deserted the army before he arrived at man- 
hood, came to Hillsborough and taught school in this town, and the 
vicinity a number of years prior to the revolutionary war. He en- 
tered the American army at the commencement of our struggle for 
independence, and was killed in the battle at White Plains, New- 
York, in September 1776. He was a school-mate of the famous 
Dilworth, the author of the spelling-book, received an excellent edu- 
cation, and is said to have excelled particularly in penmanship. The 
first female who taught school in the town, was a Mrs. Muzzey, a 
widow lady from Sudbury, Mass., who instructed here several years. 
In the infancy of the town many young men were accustomed to 
resort in the winter season to the Rev. Mr. Barnes for instruction 
in the rudiments of an English education. The first record respect- 
ing the town schools bears date, 1780. It was voted in that year to 
raise one hundred pounds for the support of schools. In 1792, a vote 
was passed to raise twenty-five pounds for common schools, exclu^ 
sive of what the rate required. Dilworth's spelling book was then 
the fountain of learning. Tlie Psalter and a simple treatise on arith- 
metic were used in some of the schools. Choosing sides and spel- 
ling once a week was the food, dinner, and dessert of ambition, and 
the school masters ferule the principal stimulant. Saturday noons, 
the little square blue primmer, containing the catechism and command- 
ments, Walt's cradle hymns, furnished scholar? with their quantum 
of religious instruction, and with these facilities and materials, the 
young mind was to be advanced and furnished for the business of 
the world. Time has wrought a gradual improvement in the charac- 
ter of our common schools. Yet it must be acknowledged that our 
system of popular education is far from being as perfect as it ought to 
be in a Republic, where the permanency of our civil institutions 



32 ANNALS OP THE TOWN 

depends maiuly upon the diffusion of intelligence among the mass 
of the people. The present number of school districts in the town 
is seventeen, at which between five and six hundred children and 
youth, are annually instructed. The amount expended in the town 
for a few years past, in the support of its common schools, has been 
about one thousand dollars yearly. 

Hillsborough Academy, was incorporated by the Legislature in 
June 1821, and the same year a building of brick was erected for its 
accommodation at the Lower village. This institution has not been in 
constant operation since its foundation, but has been opened occasion- 
ally for a part of the year, with considerable success. The names 
of those who have been its instructers, from time to time, are as fol- 
lows. Dr. Simeon IngersoU Bard, of Francestown ; Rev. William 
Clark, now of Cincinnati, Ohio, who graduated at Dartmouth Col- 
lege, in 1821, and at Andover Theological Seminary, in 1827 ; Rev. 
Samuel Wallace Clark, brother of the preceding, of Greenland, N. 
H., who graduated at Dartmouth College in 1823, and at Andover in 
1827 ; Rev. Josiah Peabody, who graduated at Dartmouth College, 
in 1825 ; Robert Reed Heath, who graduated at Dartmouth College 
in 1836; Solomon Heath, brother to Robert, who graduated at Dart- 
mouth College, in 182G; Benjamin F. Wallace, Esq., Rev. 
Ephraim Taylor, Albert Baker, Esq., and Francis Brown Musse)'-, 
of Amherst. High schools have frequently been taught for a sea- 
son at the Bridge and Centre villages. Besides the money raised 
for town schools, public and private, large sums have been expend- 
ed by young men and women at schools, academies, and colleges, 
abroad, where they have gone to seek further advantages of educa- 
tion. Subjoined are brief notices of the natives of the town, who 
have received a liberal education. Abraham Andrews, son of Solo- 
mon and Sarah Andrews, was born Dec. Hth, 178G, prepared for 
college under the direction of his uncle the Rev. Ephraim P. Brad- 
ford, graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1811, and has, for many 
years, been an eminent instructer in Charlestor^n, and Boston, Mass. 
He now resides in Charlestown. 

Col. Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, eldest son of the late Governor 



OP HILLSBOROUGH. 3S 

Benjamin Pierce, was born August 29th, 1790, received his educa- 
tion preparatory for college at Phillips Academy, Exeter, entered 
Dartmouth College in 1S07, and continued a member of that insti- 
tution three years, when he commenced the study of law in the of- 
fice of David Starratt, Esq. He pursued his legal studies uutil the 
commencement of the late war with Great Britain, when he entered 
the army with the rank of Lieutenant in the third Regiment of Ar- 
tillery, intending to resume his legal pursuits when the war should 
close. Circumstances however, caused him to remain in the ser- 
vice in which he has been advanced by regular gradations from the 
rank of Lieutenant to that of Colonel by brevet, which post he now 
holds in the 1st Regiment of Artillery. Col. P. was especially dis- 
tinguished as an able, and efficient officer, in the late Florida War. 
He has been thrice married and is now a widower. 

Rev. Francis Danforth, son of Jonathan Danforih, was born Feb. 
28th, 1793, fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., 
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1819, studied Theology at the 
Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass., where he graduated in 
1822, was ordained pastor of the first Congregational Church in 
Greenfield, N. H., July 11, 1823, dismissed in 1831 ; installed at 
Winchester, N. H., August ISth, 1831, dismissed in 1839 ; installed 
at Hadley, Mass., Dec. 11th, 1839, where he now resides. 

Rev. Aaron Foster, son of Aaron Foster, was born INIarch 19ih, 
1794, prepared for college at Union Academy, Plainfield, graduat- 
ed at Dartmouth College in 1822, and at the Andover Theological 
Seminary in 1825. He was employed for several years as a domes- 
tic Missionary, and is now settled in the ministry at P'ort Covington, 
N. Y. Rev. Jeremiah Stow, eldest son of Deacon Joel Stow, was 
born February 15, 1795, pursued his studies preparatory for admis- 
sion to college, at the Union Academy Plainfield, graduated at Dart- 
mouth College, in 1822, at Andover Theological Seminary, in 1825, 
In July, 1826, married Miss Austress, daughter of the late David 
Stewart, Esq., of Amherst, was employed as a home missionary sev- 
eral years, and was afterwards settled in the ministry at Livonia, N. 
Y., where he died of consumption, Nov. 15, 1832, aged 37 years 



34 ANNALS OF THE TOWK 

and 9 months. Amasa Symonds, son of Eliphalet Symonds, was 
born Sept. 9, 1799, prepared for college at North Andover, and at 
Phillips Academy South Andover, Mass., entered Dartmouth Col- 
lege in 1821, and died at his father's in Hillsborough, Nov. 8th 
1822, while a member of the Sophomore class in that institution. 
Lieut. Amos B. Foster, son of Aaron Foster, was born July 15th, 
1804, was educated as a cadet at the Military Academy, West- 
Point, where he graduated in 1827, 'visited his friends for the last 
time and was ordered to St. Louis, Mo. From thence, he proceed 
ed to Fort Dearborn, at Chicago 111., and in the spring of 1831, was 
removed to Fort Howard, Green Bay, where he was murdered Feb. 
7th, 1832, at the age of twenty-seven years and six months. The 
circumstances ot his death were briefly these : Lieut. Foster, had 
reprimanded a private of his company by the name of Boyle, for dis- 
orderly conduct, who made use of such insolent, and unbecoming 
language in reply, that the lieutenant was induced to take him by the 
shoulder and shake him, at the same time ordering a corporal to 
take him to the guard-house. Boyle immediately went out saying, 
" Oh yes, Lieutenant, I'll go to the guard house." He ran across 
the parade ground to the guard house, seized a musket, and return- 
ed to Lieutenant F's quarters, eluding the vigilance ol the corporal, 
he ran up to the Lieutenant's chamber in the second story, and shot 
him through the heart. The ball passed through the right arm, 
above the elbow, through the body, and the left elbow which was 
horribly shattered. After receiving the wound, he walked into his 
bed room which adjoined the chamber, with the hand of his unbroken 
arm on the wound of his left side, turned quickly to go out and fell 
as he passed through the door, and instantly expired. Lieut. Foster 
was an active, vigilant and useful officer, mild and amiable in his de- 
portment and disposition, beloved by his relatives and friends and 
esteemed by all who knew him. Hon. Franklin Pierce, the fourth 
son of the late Gov. Benjamin Pierce, was born Nov. 23d, 1804, 
graduated at Bowdoin college, in 1824, commenced the study of law 
under the direction of the late John Burnam, Esq. in his native vil- 
lage, and pursued his course subsequently, at the Law-school, at 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 35 

Northamplon, Mass., at that time under the direction of the late la- 
mented Judge How, and in the offices of the Hon. Levi Woodbury, 
at Portsmouth, and the Hon. Edmund Parker, at Amherst, was ad- 
mitted to the bar at Amherst, in September 1827. In October of 
the same year, he opened an office in Hillsborough, and continued 
here until 1838, when he removed to Concord, where he now re- 
sides. Tn 1831, he was appointed by the late Gov, Dinsmoor, one 
of his aids with the rank of Colonel. He represented Hillsborough 
in the State Legislature, four years successively, from 1828. Tn 
1831 and 1832, he was speaker of the House of Representatives. 
In 1833, he was chosen a member of Congress, and continued to 
represent this State in the popular branch of the National Legislature, 
until the 4th of March, 1837, when he took his seat in the U. S. 
Senate, having been elected to that station, which he still occupies 
in the preceding December. Col. Pierce was married in 1834, to 
Miss Jane M., youngest daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Jesse Apple- 
ton, President of Bowdoin College. 

Rev. Henry Jones, son of Benjamin Jones, was born September 
29th, 1804, pursued his studies preparatory for College at the Union 
Academy Plainfield, graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1835, was 
married in April 18,36, to Miss Betsey, daughter of ]Mr. Eliphalet 
Symonds of this town, and is now Preceptor of an Academy at Chat- 
tanooga, in Tennessee. Rev. Willard Jones, a brother of Henry, 
was born July 17th 1809, prepared for college at Union Academy, 
Plainfield, graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1835, acquired his 
Theological education at the Lane Seminary, Cincinnati Ohio, and at 
the Andovcr Theological Seminary, was ordained as a missionary, at 
North Weymouth, INIass., July 4th 1839, and on the same day was 
married to Miss Meriani Pratt of that town. He is now stationed at 
Ooroomiah in Persia. Edward Robbins Johnson, the youngest son 
of the late Nathaniel Johnson, Esq. was born July 2Sii), ISIO, 
prepared for college at Phillips academy Andovcr and at Bos- 
cavven Academy, entered Daitmoutli College, in 1830, reinnincd 
in college but two years — studied law and coinnienccd practice 
which he afterwards abandoned, and now enjoys a hi^li reputation 
as an instiuctcr of music. He at present resides in Hartford, Ccnn. 



36 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

John Appleton Burnham, Esq. son of the late John i3urnan:i, Esq. 
was born June iGth 1813, fitted for college at Pembroke Academy y 
graduated at Amherst college in 1833, and is now agent of the Stark 
Manufacturing company, at Manchester in this state. Joel Buchanan 
Stow, son of Dea. Joel Stow, was born June 30th, 1813, graduated 
at the Teachers Seminary, Andover,Mass. was for sometime a teacher 
in the Teachers Seminary, at Plymouth, N. H., and is now engaged 
as an instructer, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rev. Levi Smith, son of Da- 
vid Smith, was born May 9th, 1812, pursued his academical and 
Theological studies at New Hampton, in this state, where he gradu- 
ated in 1 840, and is now preaching at Danville, Vt. Clark Cooledge, 
son of Lemuel Cooledge, was born in June 1811, prepared for col- 
lege at VVilbraham, Mass. Academy, and died in July 1S40, while a 
member of the Wesleyan University at ^liddleton, Conn. 

Several other individuals belonging to the town, are now in a course 
ol academical and professional study. Four natives of Hillsborough 
have been physicians, viz: Dr. Thomas Preston, Dr. Silas McClary, 
son of John McClary, was born July the 29th, 1792, acquired his 
medical education at New Haven, Conn, practiced some years in 
Lower Canada, and afterwards removed to Ohio where it is believed 
he now resides ; Dr. John Harbert Foster, second son of Aaron 
Foster, was born March 8th, 1796, studied his profession principally 
with Dr. Reuben D. Mussey, at Hanover, graduated at the medical 
school connected with Dartmouth College, in 1821, commenced prac- 
tice at New London, in this state, after residing there several year?, 
removed to Pittsburg, Pa., thence to Mobile, Alabama, and in 1832 
to Michigan, where he now resides ; Dr. Samuel Sargent, son of 
Jonathan Sargent, was born March 13th, 1790, and now practices 
medicine in Chichester, N. H. 

The Harmony Lodge, No. 38 of free and accepted, was constitu- 
ted Sept. 17th 1821. by a grant from the Grand Lodge of New 
• Hampshire, incorporated by the Legislature, June 22, 1827. Orig- 
inal number of members, 14. Number admitted from 1831, to 1833, 
78, making an aggregate of 92 individuals who have been admitted 
to this Lodge. The Lodge is located at the hall of Thomas Wil- 
son, Esq. It is not so flourishing as formerly. 



OF IIILLSEOROUGH. 37 

The Hillsborough Temperance society was formed July 5th, 1830, 
Dea. George Dascomb was chosen its first president. The society 
lias had an annual increase since its formation. The whole number 
who have joined, is 408. Of this number, 25 have died, 9 males 
and 16 females. 

The first tavern kept in Hillsborough was opened in 1760, by Capt. 
Samuel Bradford, sen., on Bible hill. The first store was opened 
at the Bridge about the year 1785 by the late Lieut. William Tag- 
gart. The second was commenced by Enos Towne about 1790, 
between the Lower village and Bible Hill. Before this the inhabi- 
tants had obtained their mercantile supplies principally from Amherst. 
The first saw and grist mill, was built by Capt. Samuel Bradford,sen. 
in 1766, a lillle above the Bridge, between the Lower village and 
Bible hill. This set of mills was swept away by a freshet in the 
spring of 1707, soon after they were put in operation. The second 
set of mills was built two or three years after by Archibald Taggart, 
at the Bridge. They stood on the site now occupied by the north 
lactory, and were a great accommodation not only to the early inhab- 
itants of Hillsborough, but to those of other towns in the vicinity 
who had previous to their erection, been obliged to go to New Bos- 
ton to get their grain ground. In 1811 the first cotton factory was 
built. The frame was reared July 4th of that year. The first weav- 
ing in it was done in 1828. The second factory was built by Mr. 
Joshua i\Iarcy in 1828. 

In the last war with Great Britain, a commendable spirit of patri- 
otism was evinced by the citizens of Hillsborough. Several persons 
(nearly twenty it is believed) from the town enlisted in the regular 
army. Two natives of the town. Gen. John "McNeil and Col. Ben- 
jamin K. Pierce before mentioned, were distinguished officers of that 
war. Gen. John McNeil entered the service as Captain in the 11th 
regiment of infantry to which he was appointed March 12th, 1812, 
was promoted to the rank of Major, August 15th 1813, breveted a 
Lieut. Colonel July 5th, 1814, "for his intrepid behavior on the 5tli 
day of July in the battle of Chippewa," received a second brevet 
that of Colonel, July 25th 1813, "for his distinguished valor as 



38 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

commander of the 11th regiment of infantry on the 25th day of July 
in the hattle of Niagara," was retained in the Peace establishment as 
Major of the 5th infantry to rank 15th of August 1813, promoted to 
the rank of Lieut. Colonel, 1st regiment of infantry Feb. 24, 1818, 
promoted to the rank of Colonel April 28th 1826, breveted Brig. 
General July 25th 1824, for ten years faithful service in the grade of 
brevet Colonel, resigned and retired from the service in April 1830, 
on being appointed surveyor for the port of Boston. 

General McNeil's distinguished military services commencing be- 
fore actual declaration of war by Congress and continuing throu"-h a 
period of eighteen years, present a bright page in the history of that 
contest, and have won for him a name that will be remembered alon"- 
with the Sullivans Starks and Cilleys of the granite state. It is a 
fact worthy of notice that the gallant 11th regiment in the battles of 
Chippewa and Niagara or Lunday's lane should have been comman- 
ded by a young Major, and that he in the brief space of twenty days, 
should have received two brevets, for his distinguished, and gallant 
conduct upon the field of battle. In the dusk of the evening, dur- 
ing the last named engagement, while at the head of his regiment, 
cheering them on to the eonHict, he was wounded by a cannister 
shot, which passed through the right knee. From the size of the 
ball, the limb was dreadfully shattered and nearly carried away. 
Still he remained long upon the ground and did not leave it until 
fainting with the loss of blood, his situation was observed by soldiers 
near him, through whose aid he was sustained in his saddle and tak- 
en from the field. 

In 1814, when large detachments of the New-Hampshire mihtia, 
were summoned to defend Portsmouth, which was then menaced 
with an attack, Hillsborough furnished a considerable number of men. 
One native of the town has been slain in the late Florida war. Lieut. 
John W. S. McNeil, eldest son of Gen. John McNeil was mortally 
wounded, while leading an attack upon an Indian camp in Florida, 
on the morning of the 10th of September 1837, and lingered until 
the next night, when he expired at the age of twenty years, and six 
months. Li^ut. McNeil was a young officer of rich promise, pos- 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 39 

sessed a heart susceptible of every noble and generous impression, 
high-minded, brave and honorable. 

There has been fourteen instances of death by accident, viz. 
Two were killed by falling trees, eight were drowned, two were 
burned to death, one by a fall in a mill, and one by a fall from a 
horse. Eleven dwellings have been destroyed by fire. In that of 
Mr. Samuel Lacy burnt about the year 1822, the corpse of his moth- 
er was shockingly disfigured by the fire .Several barns and school- 
houses, also a considerable number of blacksmith's shops have been 
burned. In July 1831, a barn of much value belonging to Mr. James 
Jones was struck by lightning and consumed, the uncommonly large 
and valuable blacksmith shop and axe manufactory, at the Bridge 
village, belonging to Messrs. Peaslee and Wbittemore was burned in 
October 1836. There is one accident in the history of the town 
which stands out with peculiar prominence. About 12 o'clock, on 
the night of October 27th 1838, the large well furnished house of 
Mr. George Nelson was discovered to be on fire, and so rapid was 
the progress of the devouring element, that his family consisting of 
five adults, barely escaped with their lives. Mrs. Nelson first dis- 
covered the fire and alarmed her husband. He immediately arose 
and called his son who slept in the chamber, then passing through 
the kitchen opened a door leading to the back kitchen where a cur- 
rent of hot air and smoke prostrated him to the floor. He attempt- 
ed to find his way to the entry door, but being bewildered, went into 
the parlor, and threw himsell from a window into the front yard. He 
there ascertained that his daughter was safe, and that his son was 
dragging an old lady (then in the family) down stairs. The chil- 
dren inquired " where is mother ?" Mr. Nelson, till then supposing 
she was securely out, endeavored to go through the kitchen to the 
bed room where he had left her ; but in the midst of the darkness, 
smoke and heat missed his way, and proceeded to the back kitchen 
door, and there found his wife, lying upon the floor in a state of in- 
sensibility in the current of hot air, from which he had but just es- 
caped. He bore her across the street to the nearest neighbors. 
While on the way she revived, but was so scalded both internally, 



40 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

and externally, by the hot air that neither medieal skill, nor the kind 
care and anxious solicitude of neighbors and friends could save her 
life. She lingered in great distress until the morning of November 
1st, when she was released from her sufferings at the age of fifty- 
eight years. IMrs. Nelson* was an amiable and pious woman, and the 
consolations of the religion which she professed, supported her in 
the liour of death. She expressed her resignation to the divine will, 
uttering with her expiring breath, " Thy will be done," and the last 
words she was heard to articulate, were "Peace be still." 

The author has no data in his possession which will enable him 
to exhibit the rates of mortality at different periods in the history of 
the town. The spotted fever prevailed to a considerable extent, in 
the winter of 1811 — 1812. In 1826, the dysentary raged with 
great violence, creating an unusual degree of mortality in the town. 
In December 1832, the small-pox appeared in the family of Dr. 
Reuben Hatch, but a house remote from others, being provided for 
the reception of the infected, and other precautions being taken its 
extent was limited and was fatal in only one instance. It again vis- 
ited the town in the winter of 1837-38. It prevailed only in the 
family of Mr. Hammond Preston, one of whose children died of it. 
The most remarkable instance of longevity in Hillsborough, was 
Gridley Jackson, a soldier of the revolution who died October 10th, 
1829, at the age of 101 years 9 months and 5 days, several other 
persons have died in the town, when nearly one hundred years old. 
The population of the town in 1790 was 798, in 1800, 1311, in 
1810, 1592, in 1820, 1982, in 1830, 1792, in 1840, 1808. The 
reader will perceive by the foregoing account, that the town contains 



* Mrs. Nelson was born in Kittery, Maine, in 1780. Her maiden name was JNancy To- 
bey. She was married at Boston, in 1800, to Silas Button, Esq. of Hillsborough, who died 
Jan. 28th, 1813, aged 33 years. She was again married Dec. 23d, 1813, to Mr. (ieorgc 
Nelson. Her children by Mr. Button were, Samuel Chamberlain Dulton, born Sept. 27th 
1801 ; now a merchant in Brattleborongh, Vt., Adeline C. born Feb. 15th, 1803, who was 
married Nov. Sd. 1823, to Enoch Train, Esq. of Boston, and died in 1831. Sarah C. born 
January 15th, 1805, and was married May 29th. 1831, to Thomas H. Leverett, Esq. now of 
Keene. and died August 13, 1832. Caroline N. born Feb. Vjlh 1810 and was married in 
April 1830, to the Rev. Mr. Ira Mason Mead, now of Ypsiianti Michigan. By Mr. Nelson, 
Harriet B. Nelson who was married April 7tli 1831, to Thomas H. Leverett, Esq. of Keene. 
and died in July 1810, a son and a daughter who died in infancy. M.iry Ann still unmar- 
ried, and now resident in Ypsilanti Michigan. George R. who died May 31st, 1839, aged 
19 years. 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 41 

a less number of inhabitants than in 1820. Within the last forty 
years the town has given much more than it has received by emigration.' 
JMany of the emigrants are among the enterprising and useful citizens 
of our larger towns and cities. Among the natives of the town, 
where activity, enterprise and perseverance in the pursuits of com- 
merce has been crowned with signal success, are Samuel Train, Esq. 
of iMedford, Mass., and Ebenezer Parker, and Enoch Train Esquires 
of Boston, ornaments to the mercantile community, and the surveyors '^^ 
of the ports of Boston and New-York. 

Within the last fifteen years, this town has contributed largely to 
the tide of emigration which is peopling the valley of the iMississippi. 
Deer, IMoose, Bears, and wolves were common in the earlier stages 
of the settlement. A moose was killed in Antrim, just beyond the 
limits of the town in 1790. A deer was killed on Hedgehog hill in 
the north west part of Deering within twenty years. The last wolf 
killed in town was shot by Maj. Isaac Andi'cws about the year 1790. 
Wolves tracks were discovered in his sheep fold. He baited a fox 
trap and set it in a convenient place, and the third morning alter, saw 
that a wolf, one of three that had visited his premises the proceeding 
night, had been caught and had escaped with the trap. Putting on 
his snow-shoes and taking his gun he proceeded in quest of it. After 
tracking it for a considerable distance he discovered it on the low 
ground south ol iNIr. Isaac Baldwin's, and at the second fire killed it. 
This wolf in company with two others had crossed his track several 
times while he was in pursuit. The other wolves had deserted their 
wounded companion after having accompanied him for some time, 
but were supposed to be near by when Maj. Andrews fired. A wolf 
was started from his lair somewhat later than this in the north part of 
the town and after being hunted several days was killed in Goshen. 
Bears were frequently seen in town long afier the wolves had been ex- 
terminated. Mr. James Carr residing in the north part of the town 
was a bear trapper. On going to his trap one morning he found it 
gone. He armed himself with his rifle and after lollovving the track 

* General John McNeil and William Taggart, Esq. are both natives of Hillsborough. 

F 



42 



ANNALS OF THE TOWN 



about a mile he espied a bear. He laid aside his gun and com- 
menced an attack with a club. The moment he struck at the bear, 
it grappled him with its paw and seized his left arm in its jaws. Cair 
disliking so close an embrace, with considerable effort drew from his 
pocket a knife and compelled Bruin to relinquish his hold. The bear 
having in the struggle h-eed himself from the trap, retreated to a ledge 
of rocks near by. Thither Carr pursued him, though somewhat hurt 
by the encounter and discharged his rifle at him several times before 
he killed him. Wild turkies were shot in tovi^n as late as 1803, the 
beaver and the otter were frequent. The meadow, south of Loon 
Pond, is said to have been flowed by beaver dams. Their remains 
were visible thirty years since. Forty years ago salmon were abun- 
dant in the Contoocook river. They went up the small streams and 
brooks at some seasons of the year. The multiplication of dams has 
interposed a barrier to their ascent from the iNIerrimack. 

At the annual town meeting in March 1831, a committee was cho- 
sen by the town to purchase a town farm for the support of its pau- 
pers. Accordingly the committee the same year bought a farm in 
the north part of the town for ^2510,33. The average number of 
paupers for several years past, has been about ten. They are sup- 
ported at the expense of $200, per annum, exclusive of the farm. 

Seven individuals have been established here in the practice of 
Law, namely, David Starret, John Burnam, David Steele, John Mc- 
Farland, Timothy Darling, Franklin Pierce, and Albert Baker. 

David Starret was born at Francestown, N. H., April21st, 1774, 
graduated at Dartmouth college in 1798, studied his profession with 
the Hon. Samuel Bell, then at Francestown, was admitted to the 
Hillsborough county bar at Hopkinton in September 1802, and com- 
menced practice here in the same year, and continued to reside here 
until March 1812. One morning in that month he left home for the 
ostensible purpose of visiting Boston on a journey of business, taking 
his usual affectionate leave of his family, who expected his return 
in a few days. He proceeded directly to Charlestown, Mass. and 
took lodgings at Gordon's Inn, remained there several days, frequent- 
ly walking into Boston for the transaction of business. One evening 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 43 

ai nightfall he remarked to his landlord that he should go over to Bos- 
ton to attend to some business and return to Charlestown the same 
night, and immediately went out taking a small trunk in his hand- 
He did not return, his friends became alarmed, inquiry was made 
and it was ascertained that his trunk had been found the next morn- 
ing after his disappearance on the bridge, leading from Charlestown to 
Boston empty, and with marks of having been forced open with the 
ferrule of a cane. Starret had left his horse and carriage at Gor- 
don's and was supposed to have a large sum of money in his posses- 
sion. Suspicions were awakened that he had been robbed and mur- 
dered by the innkeeper and the affair created intense excitement in 
the public mind. Two or three years elapsed before any intelligence 
was obtained from Starret. When the first information was received 
o( him, he held the rank of Major in the republican army of JMexi- 
00. In a letter to his brother he stated that he left Hillsborough with 
a fixed determination to abandon forever his home and country, that 
he had himself left the trunk in the position in which it was found, 
with the design of misleading the public, and that he had walked to 
Providence, R. I., the same night that he left Gordon's tavern. He 
subsequently left the Mexican army went to Arkansas and there en- 
gaged in trade under the assumed name of William Fisher, sustain- 
ed a respectable character and acquired a small property there, and 
in June 1819, terminated his own existence, by blowing out his brains 
with a pistol at the house of Stephen R. Wilson on the Saline Bayou, 
about six miles from Red river and from the borders of Texas. Mr. 
Starret while in the practice of law, was more distinguished for scru- 
pulous integrity, than brilliancy of talent ; a better counsellor, than an 
advocate. He enjoyed the respect of his townsmen and the confi- 
dence of his clients. What could have induced this unfortunate man 
possessing the high esteem of his townsmen, in the successlul practice 
of an honorable and lucrative profession, surrounded by friends and 
living in the bosom of an amiable and affectionate family, to forsake 
all in the height of manhood, to lead a hapless life and die tin untime- 
ly deatW in a strange land is a profound mystery, reserved to be devel- 
oped only in the light of eternity. Mr. Starret married Abigail EI- 



44 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

lery Appleton, daughter of Rev. Joseph Appleton of North Brook- 
field, Mass., by whom he had three children, namely, Dea. Joseph 
A. Starret of JMoiit Vernon in this state, born August 31st, 1804. 
Emily Caroline who married the Rev. David Stowell of Townsend, 
Mass., born January 20th, 1807, and Alfred Gardiner of Mont Ver- 
non, born October 21st, 1810. 

John Burnam, Esq. was a notlve of Dnnbarton, N. H. prepared 
for college with Rev. Dr. Harris of Dunbarton, graduated at Dart- 
mouth college in 1807, commenced the study of law with the Hon. 
Samuel Bell of Francestown and completed his preliminary course 
with David Starret, Esq. at Hillsborough, was admitted to the bar at 
Amherst in Feb. 1811, came to Hillsborough and succeeded to the 
professional business of D. Starret, Esq. in April 1812, and con- 
tinued to reside here, until his death, April 8th, 1S2G, at the age of 
forty six years. Mr. Burnam possessed a strong and discriminating 
mind, expanded and refined by the treasures of ancient and modern 
literature. He married Sarah W. daughter of the Rev. Joseph Ap- 
pleton of North Brookfield, Mass., by whom he had five children ; 
four of whom are yet living. David Steele, Esq. son of the late 
Dea. David Steele of Peterborough was born at Peterborough, Sept. 
oOth, 1787, graduated at Williams College, ISIO, commenced his 
legal studies in the office of .Tames Walker, Esq., then at Frances- 
town and finished them under the direction of the Hon. Charles H. 
Atherton, at Amherst, was licensed to practice law at Amherst iu 
September, 1813, and opened an ofiice in Hillbborough, in October 
of the same year, where he now resides, 

John McP'arland was a native of the adjoining town of Antrim, 
studied first with David Starret Esq., and afterwards with John Bur- 
nam, Esq., was admitted to the bar at Amherst, in February 1815, 
commenced practice at the Upper village in this town the same 
year, and resided here until his death. He died of consumption in 
July 1819, aged 31 years. Timothy Darling the eldest son of the 
Hon. Joshua Darling of Henniker, prepared for college at Pinker- 
ton Academy, Derry, graduated at Harvard College in 1822, studi- 
ed law with Artemas Rogers, Esq., then at Henniker, commenced 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 45 

ilic practice of law m Hillsborons^li in 1S26, as successor to John 
Biirnam, Esq., and removed from iliis town in 1627. He has since 
luirsued a course of Theological study and is now settled as pastor 
of a Presbyterian church in the western part of New- York. Hon. 
Franklin Pierce has been noticed in a former part of these annals. 
Albert Baker, Esq., was born at Bow in this state, Feb. 10, 1810, 
})repared for college at Pembroke Academy, under the direction of 
the late Hon. John Vose, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1S34, 
and the same year commenced reading law in the office of the Hon. 
Franklin Pierce at Hillsborough, and completed his preparatory 
studies with the Hon. Richard Fletcher at Boston, was adiuitted to 
the practice of law at the Suffolk bar, Boston in April 1837, and in 
August of the same year, opened an office in Hillsborough, as suc- 
cessor to the Hon. Franklin Pierce. 

Of the above mentioned lawyers, four have practised their pro- 
fession at the Lower village, one at the Upper village and one at the 
Bridge village. Two of the number only, Messrs. Steele and Ba- 
ker, now reside in the town. The number of Physicians who have 
been settled in the practice of medicine at Hillsborough, is thirteen 
viz : William Little, Joseph Munroe, Benjamin Stearns, Joshua 
Grain, Luther Smith, Reuben Hatch, Mason Hatch, Thomas Pres- 
ton, Simeon LigersoU Bard, Nahuni Parker Foster, Elisha Hatch, 
Abraham Hazen Robinson, and Abel Conant Burnam. Dr. Wil- 
liam Little was a native of Shirley, Mass., removed to Peterborough, 
N. H., in childhood with his parents, studied medicine with Dr. 
Young of Peterborough, practiced a short time in Washington, N- 
H., and in Dracut, Mass., established himself in Hillsborough, in 
1782, where he resided until his death. He was accidentally drown- 
ed, Nov. 7th, 1807, aged 55 years. Dr. Little was twice married. 
His first wife was a IMiss Fletcher from Westford, IMass., to whom 
he was united while resident in Dracut, she died before he removed 
to Hillsborough, leaving him two children. He was again married 
in May, 1787, to Ruth, daughter of Dea. Joseph Symonds of Hills- 
borough, who survived him, with a nmnber of children. Dr. Joseph 
Munroe was a native of Carlisle, Mass., acquired his professional 



40 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

education with Dr. Francis Kittredge, of Tevvksbury, Mass., com- 
menced the practice of physic, in Hillsborough, about the year 
1784. He died Feb., 24th 1798, in the 4l3tyear of his age. Dr. 
M. was a good physician, of social disposition, and an amiable, and 
upright citizen. He married Azubah Henry, of Carlisle, who is yet 
living. By her, he had eight children, five of whom survived him. 
Dr. Benjamin Stearns was a native of Walpole in this state, where 
he was born about the year 1770, received his medical education,, 
imder the direction of Dr. Johnson of Walpole, located himself in 
Hillsborough, in the fall of 1797, left this town about the year 1804, 
and went to reside at Truro in Nova Scotia. He yet resides in that 
[)rovince if living. Dr. Stearns was married in 1801, to Mehitable, 
youngest daughter of Dea. Joseph Symonds. Dr. Joshua Grain, 
was born at Alstcad in this state. May 16th, 1776, studied medicine 
with Dr. Jessaniah Kittredge of Walpole, commenced practice in 
Hillsborough, in 1802. Died February 1st 1811, aged 34 years, 
Dr, C. enjoyed the reputation of an able practitioner in his profes- 
sion, and a useful and worthy citizen. He married Sarah Giddings 
of Walpole. She survived him with three children. Dr. Luther 
Smith, son of James Smith, was born at Mont Vernon, N. H., De- 
cember 27th 1786, studied medicine with his eldest brother, Dr, 
Rogers Smith, then in the practice of medicine at Mont Vernon, 
settled as a physician at the Bridge village in Hillsborough, in Nov- 
ember 1809, where he continued to reside until his lamented death, 
August 5th 1824, at the age of 37 years, 7 months and nine days. 
Dr. S. was married July 22d 1817, to Miss Mary Garlton, daughter 
of the late John Carlton, Esq. of Mont Vernon, who yet survives 
him, with two children. His widow has resided at INIont Vernon, 
since 1837. 

The subjoined sketch of the professional and private character of 
Dr. Smith, has been communicated to the author, by one who knew 
him intimately. "Dr. Smith, was a man of superior mental endow- 
ments. Though he did not enjoy the advantages of a collegiate 
education ; yet his literary attainments were very considerable. He 
devotuu much of his lime to reading, and in the selection, and ap- 



or HILLSBOROUGH. 47 

preciation of authors, displayed a highly cultivated and correct taste. 
His memory was uncommonly retentive, his penetration lively, and 
acute, of solid understanding, and inflexible integrity. In his Judg- 
ment of character; he was especially keen, and discriminating and 
in his principles firm, manly and independent. As a medical prac- 
titioner, he had acquired in a good degree, the confidence of the 
community in his skill and judgment ; and was justly reputed an 
excellent physician. He was fair honorable and liberal, in his prac- 
tice, entirely U-ee from all affectation, and pretention, disdaining all 
that parade and artifice under which, the impostors of the profess- 
ion, endeavor to conceal their ignorance, and mislead the people, 
and to which, physicians of otherwise fair reputations, are sometimes 
in their desire to gain practice and popularity, too ready to yield. 
Applying his strong mind, aided by reading, and observation to the 
investigation of disease, he was seldom mistaken in his decisions. 
In short, he was a kind, and affectionate husband, and father, an able 
physician, an obliging neighbor, a public spirited citizen, an enlight- 
ened patriot and a friend of mankind." 

Dr. Reuben Hatch, son of Reuben Hatch, was born at Alstead, 
about the year J 785. His medicalinstructers were Doctors Joshua 
Grain of this town, and Elder Carpenter of Alstead, commenced the 
practice of medicine at Newport, removed to Hillsborough in 1811, 
and practiced here until 1835, when he removed to Griggsville Illi- 
nois, where he now resides. Dr. H. was first married, to Lucy, 
daughter of Maj. Isaac Andrews, a truly estimable lady, who died 
Jan. 28, 1833, aged 46, leaving him nine children. He ^as again 
married, in September, 1833, to Miss Anna Shatton of Charlestown, 
Mass., Dr. Mason Hatch, son of Mason Hatch of Alstead, was 
born in that town, March 3d, 1702, studied his profession, with Dr. 
Thomas D. Brooks of Alstead, and with his kinsman, Doct. Reuben 
Hatch, commenced practice in Hillsborough, in January 1817. He 
continued to reside here until May 1837, when he removed to Brad- 
ford and thence to Newport in October 1838, where he now resides. 
Dr. Hatch was married in March 1818, to Miss Apphia, daughter of 
Maj. Isaac Andrews. 



48 ANNALS OP THE TOWN 

Dr. Thomas Preston, son of Jodediah Preston was born in Hills- 
borough, June 23d, 1781, studied with Dr. Luther Smith, commen- 
ced practice in Deering, removed to Hillsborough in August 1S24, 
soon after the decease of Dr. Smith, and yet pursues his profession, 
in this town. Dr. P. was married in April 1827, to Mrs. JMary 
Hosley, who died August 20lh, 1S3I, having borne him two children 
one of whom yet survives her. Dr. Simeon T. Bard, was born at 
Nelson, N. H., June 2d, 1797, fitted for college with the Rev. Tru- 
man Baldwin of Charlotte Vermont, entered Middlebury college in 
1812, and continued a member of that institution until 1815, was 
employed for several years as an instructer, studied the medical pro- 
fession with Dr. Aaron Bard of Fitchburg^ Mass. and with Dr. Pe- 
ter Tuttle of Hancock, N. H., attended lectures at Hanover, com- 
menced practice at Weare, N. H. in 1824, removed to this town the 
same year. In 1829 he left here and established himself in Fran- 
cestown. Dr. Nahum P. Foster, a native of Westmoreland, N. 
H., studied medicine with Dr. George F. Dunbar of that town, and 
at the medical institution at Hanover, where he received a degree in 
1834, commenced practice in Hillsborough in the autnmn of 1834, 
and removed from town in April 1836. He now resides in Unity, 
N. H. Doct. Ehsha Hatch, son of Azel Hatch, Esq. of Alstead 
was born in Alstead, July 17th 1796, studied medicine with Doc- 
tors Twitchell and Adams at Keene, and attended medical lectures 
at Hanover, where he graduated in 1824, practiced his profession in 
his native town from 1824, to 1835, when he removed to Hillsborough 
and succeeded his uncle Dr. R. Hatch. Dr. A. H. Robinson from 
Concord resided here from Nov. 1839 to March 1840, when he re- 
moved to Salisbury. Dr. Abel C. Burnam, son of Thomas Burnam 
was born at Milford, N. H. May 2d, 1812, pursued his medical stud- 
ies with Doctors Elisha Hatch of Hillsborough and Amos Twitchell, 
of Keene, attended lectures at the medical institutions at Woodstock, 
Vt. and Hanover, N. H., at the latter of which he graduated in Nov. 
1839. Tn 1840, he began to practice medicine in this town. Of 
the above list of Physicians one has resided on Bible hill, four have 
been located at the centre of the town, five at the Bridge village, and 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 49 

four of them at or near the Turnpike. Three only, Doctors E. 
Hatch, Preston, and Burnam, now practice here. 

Twenty one individuals, have held the commission of Justice of 
the Peace in Hillshorough, namely, Isaac Andrews, John Dutton, 
Benjamin Pierce, Calvin Stevens, David Starret, Nathaniel John- 
son, Elijah Beard, James Wilson, John Burnham, Timothy Wyman, 
David Steele, Andrew Sargent, Solomon McNeil, John Grimes, 
Thomas Wilson, Franklin Pierce, Hiram Monroe, Albert Baker, 
Amos Flint, Levi Goodale, Henry D. Pierce, Elijah Monroe. Nine 
of these civil magistrates have deceased, of whom are presented the 
following particulars. Isaac Andrews was born at Ipswich, INIass. 
removed to Concord, Mass., and thence to Hillsborough in 1767. 
He died Dec. 30th, 179G, aged 6S. He was one of the fathers of 
the town, a man of strong sense, an upright and useful citizen. He 
was one of the founders of the first church in this town in which he 
held the office of deacon until^the infirmities of declining life com- 
pelled him to resign. Esq. A. married Lucy Perkins of Ipswich by 
whom he had 11 children, 8 of whom survived him. John Dutton 
Esq. was born at Chelmsford, Mass. January 29ih, 1750, removed 
here about the year 1777, was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 
1791, died Sept. 17, 1813, in the 64th year of his age. He was 
highly esteemed by his townsmen for his integrity and sound judge- 
ment. He married Elizabeth Spaulding, of Chemsford who survived 
him and died Feb, 22, 1835, aged 84. He also left several daugh- 
ters. "The late Gov. Benjamin Pierce was born at Chelmsford, 
Mass., December 25th, 1757. His father Benjamin Pierce, died when 
he was but six years of age, leaving a family of ten children of whom 
he was the seventh. After his father's death he was placed under 
the care of an uncle Robert Pierce a yeoman of the same town, and 
continued whh him, engaged in agricultural pursuits for more than ten 
years. He was ploughing in the field on the 19th of April 1775, when 
news arrived that Americans had been shot down by the British at 
Lexington. Leaving the field immediately, he took his uncle's gun 
and equipments and proceeded to Lexington. The British troops 



G 



JU ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

having retreated to the city, he pursued his March towards Boston 
that night, and the next morning enlisted in Capt. John Ford's com- 
pany and nas stationed for the time, at Cambridge with this company 
and was in the battle of Bunker hill. He was one of the few who 
having entered at the commencement, continued in the service to the 
close of die Revolutionary war, and participated in many of its hard 
fought actions. His regiment was that of the late Col. John Brooks 
of Medford, afterwards Governor of Massachusetts, whose personal 
friendship he long enjoyed. After the peace he was retained in the 
regiment which went with Gen. Washington to take possession of the 
city of New York, and conunued under arms until the last troops 
were disbanded at West Point in 1784, having gone through the sev- 
eral grades of common soldier, corporal, sergeant, ensign and leav- 
ing the army in command of a company, with the reputation of a 
brave and meritorious officer. He returned to Chelmsford at the 
ternn'nation of the war, but in consequence of the depreciation of 
continental paper money, in which he had received pay for about nine 
years service in the revolution he soon found himself nearly destitute 
of funds. In 17S5 he was employed as an agent to explore a tract 
of land in New Hampshire, owned by Col. Stoddard, now known as 
the town of Stoddard in Cheshire county. Having accomplished that 
business, as he was passing homeward on horseback, down the north- 
westerly stem of the Contoocook river called the "Branch," he stop- 
ped at a log hut in the woods. Here he purchased a tract of land* of 
about fifty acres of the owner and returned to Chelmsford, where he 
passed die winter. In the spring of 178G he returned to the ground 
he had lately purchased Tind there in his hut "solitary and alone" 
commenced die clearing of his farm. Here he cooked for himself, 
slept upon a blanket and lived as best he might, until his marriage to 
his first wife which took place in 1787. In the autumn of 1786 
upon the recommendation of Gen. Sullivan who had sought out the 
soldier in the woods he was appointed Brigadier Major of the first 



'Tliis tract of land is now the farm of Mr. David Smitii in the southwest part of tlie 
town. The hut he built in 1786 stood in the rear of Mr. Smith's dwelling house near an 
elm tree which was then a slender saplinsr. Gov. P. located himself on the Turnpike 
about the vear l8U'.i, 



OF IIILLSBOROLGH. 51 

brigade of militia organized in the county of Hillsborough. For many 
years he commanded the 26th Regiment which has furnished a INlil- 
ler, McNeil, and several other highly valued officers and soldiers, 
who have distinguished themselves in the public service. In J 807, 
after twenty one years service he retired from active duty in the mi- 
litia in the capacity of General of the brigade which composed all the 
regiments, of Hillsborough county. Every one who ever saw Gen. 
Pierce upon parade, readily gave him the credit of being behind no 
man in those graces that become a military officer. He was the beau 
ideal of an officer of the revolution, with the perfect manners of the 
gendeman, and enough for true discipline of that pride which distin- 
guishes the superior from the subaltern. In 1789, he was first elect- 
ed representative to the General Court ol New Hampshire, for the 
classed towns of Hillsborough and Henniker, and continued to repre- 
sent either these towns classed, or Hillsborough singly for thirteen 
years in succession. He was ever one of the most prominent and 
influential men in that body. In 1803 he succeeded the Hon. Rob- 
ert Wallace of Henniker, as councillor for Hillsborough county. His 
opponent was the late Col. Robert Means, of Amherst. Gen. P. 
continued in the council from 1803 to 1809, the five last years as the 
counsellor of Governor Langdon, by whom he was appointed Sher- 
iff of Hillsborough county in 1809. In this office he remained until 
1813, when on account of not aiding the newly organized Supreme 
Judicial Court, he was removed. The next year he was again return- 
ed to the council by the people o( Hillsborough district, to which of- 
fice he was annually re-elected until 1818, when he was re-appointed 
sheriff of the county. From this office he was transferred jn 1827, 
to that of Governor of this state, to which office he was again elect- 
ed in 1829. His last public office was elector of President in 1832. 
At his death he was Vice President of the Society of Cincinnati in 
Massachusetts. Fiom 1775 to 1830, he was almost constantly in 
some public employment. A little more than two years piior to his 
decease he was stricken with partial paralysis upon his left side, and 
encountered intense suffering for a portion of the time until iiis death. 
His mental faculties renuiined in almost uninterrupted vigor, until tlie 



52 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

last llirec or four clays of his mortal existence. He died April 1st, 
1839, at the age of eighty one years and three months. Gov. Pierce 
was probably preceded by no man in the state of equally extensive 
personal popularity. He was a true patriot of the genuine revolution- 
ary stamj). An uncompromising champion of the rights of the peo- 
ple, ever faithful to their interests. He was a man of exemplary lib- 
erality. There was no public charity in the town, or neighborhood 
in which he did not participate. A single instance of his noble 
generosity, when sheriff of the county, a poor man, a revolutionary 
soldier, had lain in gaol at Amherst confined for debt,unable to be ex- 
tiicated by the law, because there was no one to pay the expenses of 
commitment, and the cost of his subsistence for some eight or ten 
years. Fruitless attempts were made to raise a few hundred dollars 
by subscription, when Gen. P, first discharging the whole debt from 
his own pocket, went to the prison, turned the key and told the poor 
debtor, ' Go breathe the free air.' Gov. P. enjoyed a high reputa- 
tion for hospitality, his frank and courteous manners made his guests 
feel easy and at home because they knew and felt that they were wel- 
come." Honored be his memory. Gov. Pierce was married to Eliz- 
abeth, daughter of Isaac Andrews, Esq., May 24th, 1787, she died 
Aug. 13, 1788, in the 21st year of her age, leaving one daughter, 
Elizabeth A. who married Gen. John McNeil. In 1789 he was again 
married to Anna, daughter of the late Benjamin Kendrick, of Amherst. 
She died in December 1838, aged 70, having borne him eight chil- 
dren, namely, Benjamin Kendrick, now a Colonel in the U. S. Army. 
Nancy M., who married Gen. Solomon McNeil, and died April 27, 
1837, aged 44 years, and 5 months. John Sullivan, who died in 
I\lichigan in 1825. Harriet B., who married Hugh Jameson, Esq. 
and died Nov. 24lh, 1837, aged 37. Charles Grandison, who died 
at Uiica, N.Y. June 5th, 1828, aged 25. Franklin, now a Senator in 
Congress from this state. Charlotte, who died in infancy. Henry 
Dearborn, who resides in this town. 

,:^ Calvin Stevens, Esq. was a native of Rudand, Mass., — but re- 
moved to Carlisle while in infancy where he was bred. He remov- 
ed to Hillsborough in 1776. He fought in the revolution, and was 



OF IIILLSBOROliGII. 53 

ui the battle of Bunker hill. His mind was naturally inquisitive, 
abounded in anecdotes, and was much improved by reading. He 
ives for many years a town officer and civil magistrate, and in these 
relations was distinguished for his correctness and integrity. He 
was a kind husband, a tender father, an humble and consistent 
christian. He removed from Hillsborough to Mont Vernon, in 
April 1821, where he died of Apoplexy, February 9th 1834, aged 
80. He married Esther Wilkins of Carlisle, Mass., by whom he 
had 13 children, 10 of whom survived him. David Starret, and John 
Burn am, have been already noticed, under another head. Elijah 
Beard, Esquire, was a native of Wilmington, Mass., settled here in 
1785. For many years he served his townsmen, in the capacities 
of town clerk, selectman, and representative in the State Legisla- 
ture. He died Dec, 5th, 1814, aged 49 years. He married Miss 
Phebe Jones of Wilmington, who survives him with several children. 
Nathaniel Johnson, Esq., was a native of Andover, Mass. At an 
early age he was placed by his father Zebediah Johnson, under the 
care of a Mr. Buss, who kept a tavern in Milton, N. H., with whom 
he remained till he was fourteen years of age, when he came to 
Hillsborough ; his father having in the mean time removed here. 
Soon after, young Johnson enlisted in the army of the revolution for 
three years. After serving out his term in the war, he resided at 
Andover, Mass., and at Boston with Hon. William Phillips some 
years, who aided him in establishing himself in mercantile business. 
Having amassed considerable property he purchased a farm in this 
town, on which he erected a splendid mansion, the most expensive 
dwelling ever built in the town and located here in 1803. He 
resided in Hillsborough until 1826, when he removed to Northwood, 
where he died at the residence of his son-in-law, J. Clarke, Esq. 
Jan. 19th, 1828, at the age of 61 years. Esq. Johnson married 
Catharine Clarke of Milton, Mass., who died at Hillsborough July 
11th, 1827, aged 61. Their children were Maria, who married 
Rev. Otis Rockwood, now of Woodstock, Conn. Charlotte, who 
married Jonathan Clarke, Esq. of Northwood, N. H. Nathaniel, 
who died at the city of Washington, in March, 1818, aged about 21. 



54 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

George Clarke, who died at Exeter, May 22, 1816, aged 15, while 
a member of Phillips Academy in that place. He was an uncom- 
monly amiable, interesting and promising youth. Catharine C. who 

married Phillips of Lynn, Mass. Sarah M.,who married Hon. 

Edward Kent, of Bangor, the present Governor of Maine. Lydia 
Elizabeth Parker, who married Samuel Thatcher, Esq. of Bangor, 
Me. Edward R. of Hartford, Conn. James Wilson, Esq., a native 
of New Boston, removed here in 1 795, possessed the confidence of 
his townsmen in an eminent degree. For many years he filled the 
office of first selectman and town clerk, and represented the town in 
the state Legislature ten years in succession, from 1812 to 1822. 
His death occurred Feb. 20, 1836, at the age of 66. He married 
Margaret McClure of Deering in Dec. 1793, who died Feb. 14, 
1832, aged 60, having borne him seven children, three only of whom 
survived him. 

Ecclesiastical History- 

The early inhabitants of this town, brought with them tliat rever- 
ence for God and religious institutions which so eminently distin- 
guished the pilgrim fathers of New England. Being principally emi- 
grants from the counties of Essex and Middlesex in Massachusetts, 
they were educated in the faith of the Puritans, and preferred the 
ancient Congregational mode of church government and discipline. 
The public worship of God, was early established in this infant colo- 
ny. From the beginning of the settlement, the people were in the 
liabit of assembling for religious purposes long before they were 
supplied with regular preaching. The Rev. Messrs. William Hous- 
ton of Bedford, and Samuel Cotton of Litchfield, visited them oc- 
casionally and administered the sacrament. They assisted in the or- 
ganization of the first church which was gathered Oct. 12th 1769, 
being the 10th church formed within the present limits of Hillsbo- 
rough county. John Mead, and Tristram Cheney, were elected 
deacons the same day. In the autumn of 1772, about ten years 
after the second settlement of the town was commenced, the church 
and tf)un united in extending a call to the Rev. Jonathan Barnes to 
become their pastor, which invitation was accepted and he was in- 



or HILLSBOROUGH. 55 

ducted into the sacerdotal office, and invested with the pastoral charge 
of the church and congregation in Hillsborough, Nov. 25th, 1772. 
Rev. Josiah Bridge of East Sudbury, now called JMayland, Mass., 
preached his ordination sermon. At a town meeting held the day 
previous to his ordination, the following provision was made tor his 
support : " Voted unanimously to fix the Rev. Mr. Barnes's salary, 
that we will give him 30 pounds by way of settlement, 35 pounds a 
year for the first four years, then 40 pounds a year, until there shall 
be seventy families in town, and when there shall be seventy families, 
he is to be entitled to 50 pounds, whether sooner or later until there 
be 90 families. When there is 90 families, he shall receive 60 
pounds, until there is 110 families, when 110 families, he shall re- 
ceive 66 pounds, 8 shillings and 4 pence a year, which last sum, he 
shall continue to receive so long as he remain our minister." Until 
1779, public worship was usually held in a private house, especial- 
ly in the winter, and frequently in a barn during the warm season. 
The Rev. Mr. Barnes, was ordained in a barn. The first Meeting- 
house was completed in 1779, and the second in 1792. 

In 1803, Mr. Barnes having become incapaciated for the regular 
performance of parochial duties, resigned his office and was dismiss- 
ed Oct. 19th of that year, having sustained the pastoral relation near- 
ly thirty one years. The Rev. Mr. Barnes was from Marlborough 
in Massachusetts, where he was born Dec. 26th, 1749. He receiv- 
ed his education at Harvard college, where he was graduated in 
1770. In the summer of 1803, W'hile riding on horseback a stroke 
of lightning prostrated him to the ground, stunned him for the time, 
and so paralyzed his energies, as utterly to disqualify him for the 
discharge of his pastoral duties. He accordingly relinquished them, 
and sought in retirement that ease and tranquility, which his en- 
feebled health required. He survived but two years, and died Au- 
gust 3d, 1805 in the fifty sixth year of his age. He was a man of 
very respectable talents, possessed a vigorous and discriminating 
mind, and a lively and well cultivated imagination. He had a strong 
sonorous voice, and an emphatic delivery. His manners were emi- 
nently dignified, polished and agreeable, a model of clerical urbanity. 



66 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

He was a charitable man with the sons and daughters of need, he 
was familiarly acquainted, making it an object to seek out the chil- 
dren of sorrow, and administer to their necessities, and by such he 
was regarded with the warmest affection. As a citizen, he exerted 
a con)manding influence, in maintaining social order, preserving una- 
nimity of feeling, and otherwise advancing the prosperity of the town. 
In his religious belief he is supposed to have been, what was at 
that lime styled an Arminian. He was not a rigid sectarian, but 
cherished a truly catholic and liberal spirit towards those who dif- 
fered from him in sentiment. Mr. Barnes was an active and labori- 
ous man. For many years after his settlement, his salary was inade- 
quate to the support of his household, and he cheerfully assisted in 
subduing the wilderness besides administering to the spiritual wants 
of his charge. He became possessed of the land allotted by Col. 
Hill, to the first settled minister of the town containing between three 
and four hundred acres. He toiled assiduously in clearing and pre- 
paring for cultivation, these and other lands, which he acquired by 
purchase, besides laboring much in the newly settled towns in the 
vicinity which were destitute of a minister. Mr. Barnes was marri- 
ed m 1774, to Miss Abigail Curtis of East Sudbury, Mass, who 
survived him, and died Dec. 8th, 1838, at the age of S3 years. She 
was a woman of great excellence of character, and was universally 
beloved and esteemed. 

Their children were,WilIiam, born Dec. 25th, 1775, now supposed 
to reside in Lower Canada. Jonathan, born March 25th, 1778. 
Joseph Curtis born April 24th, 1780, married and settled here 
in mercantile business, and died March 13th, 1817. Capt. Samuel, 
born June 9th, 1782, also a merchant in this town, and died Oct. 
21, 1822, leaving a wife and six children. Capt. Barnes was a 
worthy, industrious and enterprising citizen. Luther born Aug. 1st, 
1784. John born Dec. 30th, 1786, died at sea August 21st, 1811. 
Cyrus born Jan. 14th, 1789, and died at Porto Rico August 9, 
1819. Abigail, who married Rev. John Lawton, born May 1st 
1791. A daughter, who died in infancy, born Jan. 9, 1793. Hen- 
ry born June 28th 1794, died May 1st, 1795. Henry, now living in 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 57 

this town born June 19th, 179G. During Mr. Barnes's ministry the 
plan of the "halfway covenant," was practiced by which, the chil- 
dren of persons not members of the church, were admitted to the 
rite of baptism. The practice of admitting persons to the church 
with no particular confession of faith,'was also adopted. In this way 
the discipline of the church was relaxed and at one period, it was on 
the verge of Unitarianism. But through the strenuous and perse- 
vering exertions of some of its influential members who were tena- 
cious Calvinists and the firm and decided orthodox ground, maintain- 
ed by its second pastor it was in the course of a few years reclaimed 
to trinitarian congreationalism. In the two years subsequent to the 
Rev. Mr. Barnes's dismission, several different clergymen preached 
here as a stated supply. The Rev. Josiah Moulton preached here 
a few months in 1804, and an effort was made by the church to set- 
tle him which failed through the opposition of a large minority in the 
town, the vote standing 57 in Aivor and 54 against his settlement, lu 
June 1805, the town concurred with the church in extending an in- 
vitation to Mr. Stephen Chapin, to settle over them in the gospel 
ministry. Mr. Chapin complied with their invitation, and was ordain- 
ed June 18th, 1805, with a stipulated salary of $400,00, per. an- 
num, with four sabbaths to himself each year. On this occasion the 
exercises were as follows. Introductory prayer by Rev. Ethan Smith 
of Hopkinton ; sermon by Rev. Nathaniel Enunons, D. D. of Frank- 
lin, Mass. ; consecrating prayer by the Rev, David Sanford of Med- 
vvay, Mass. ; charge by Rev. John Bruce of Mont Vernon ; fellow- 
ship of the churches by Rev, IMoses Bradford of Francestown ; con- 
cluding prayer by Rev. David Long of Milford, Mass. Through 
Mr. Chapin's agency the church underwent an important change as 
to doctrine and practice. The plan of the half way covenant was 
discontinued. An experimental acquaintance with religion was re- 
quired as a qualification for church membership and an orthodox con- 
fession of faith, and covenant were adopted. The inflexible and un- 
compromising course pursued by Mr. Chapin, excited the virulent 
opposition of many whose sentiments were not in unison with his, 



H 



58 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

and after a protracted controversy resulted in his dismission May 10th, 
1808. He however did not take his final leave of the church and con- 
gregation here, untilJuly 30th, 1809, when he delivered his farewell 
sermon which was published. An extract from the doings of the 
council which dissolved Mr. C's pastoral relation to the church and 
town of Hillsborough, will give us a clue at the cause of his dismis- 
sion. Mr. Chapin's reasons for asking a dismission are the follow- 
ing, viz : The town of Hillsborough chose a committee to state their 
disaffection to him, to propose to him to ask a dismission and to as- 
sure him that if he declined, a town meeting would be immediately- 
called to vote his dismission. Mr. Chapin believed the causes of 
their disaffection to be, 1st, The conduct of his ordaining council 
in refusing to sit in council at his ordination with Rev. William Sleighs 
ofDeering. 2. Mr. Chapin's conduct in refusing to baptize chil- 
dren on the half-way covenant, so called, and declining to exchange 
with ministers who baptize on that ground, in order to accommodate 
those who wish to have their children so baptized. And above all, 
3. The doctrines which he, from time to time preaches, and under- 
stands to be the blessed doctrines of the gospel. The committee of 
the town present before the council, consented that these were in 
their opinion the reasons which induced the town to determine on 
INlr. Chapin's dismission. The principal reason assigned by the 
committee of the church why it consented to Mr, C's. dismission, 
was, his want ol health, which rendered it doubtful whether he would 
be able to perform the duties of a pastor over them. The council 
which dismissed Mr. C. of which the Rev. Walter Harris, D. D. of 
Dunbarton was moderator, and the Rev. Ethan Smith of Hopkinton 
scribe ; approved his conduct, and unanimously recommended him 
to the churches as an able and faithful minister of Christ, and as a 
man of irreproachable moral character. The church also, concurred 
with the council by a recommendation of similar import. The num- 
ber added to the church during Mr. Chapin's ministry was thirty-eight, 
though not large, it was an important acquisition. The Rev. Ste- 
phen Chapin, D. D., was born in Milford, Mass., November, 4, 
1778, graduated at Harvard College in 1804, studied Divinity with 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 69 

Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D. D., at Franklin, Mass., was licensed to 
preach Oct. 10th, 1804 ; ordained at Hillsborough, June 18th, 1805, 
dismissed May 10th, 1808. Nov. 15th, 1809, was installed over the ' 
church in Mont Vernon, N. H., December 21, 1809, was married 
to Miss Sarah Mosher of Hollis, N. H. Nov. 1818, was dismissed 
from the church in Mont Vernon, on account of a change in his 
views respecting the mode and subjects of baptism ; September 8, 
1819, was ordained pastor of the Baptist church in North Yarmouth, 
Maine. In October 1822 was dismissed, by reason of a call to the 
professorship of Theology in Waterville College, Maine ; was inaugu- 
rated in that office August 1823 ; resigned in August 1828, being 
appointed to the Presidency of the Columbian College, Washington, 
D. C.J was inaugurated in that office, March 11, 1829, where he 
presides with distinguished ability. After being destitute of a settled 
pastor for more than three years the church in connection with the 
town presented an invitation to the Rev. Seth Chapin, to become 
their pastor. Mr. Chapin gave them an affirmative answer, and was 
ordained Jan. 1, 1812. On this occasion the introductory prayer, 
was made by Rev. JMoses Sawyer of Henniker ; Rev. Ephraim P. 
Bradford of New-Boston, preached the sermon ; Rev. Reed Paige 
of Hancock, offi^red the ordaining prayer, and gave the charge ; 
Rev. J. M. Whiton of Antrim, gave the Right Hand of Fellowship ; 
Rev. Lemuel Bliss of Bradford, offered the concluding prayer. Dur- 
ing Mr. Chapin's ministry nothing occurred of special importance. 
He became embarrassed in his pecuniary affairs, and was dismissed 
June 26th,1816. Mr. Chapin was born at Mendon IMass., in 1783; 
graduated at Brown University in 1808, and was married about the 
same year to Miss Mary, daughter ol Hon. Judge Bicknell of Bar- 
rington, Rhode Island; acquired his Theological Education at Ando- 
ver Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 181 1 ;Jan. 1, 1812, 
was ordained pastor of the church in Hillsborough; dismissed June 
26th, 1816 ; was installed at Hanover, Rlass., April 21, 1819 ; dis- 
missed April 24th, 1824 ; resided at Hunter, N. Y. most of the time 
from 1824 to 1832 ; was installed in West CJranville Mass., in l&oJ 
and dismissed in 1835. His present residence is unkuowu to the 



GO ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

author. During iho interval of more than three years which elapsed 
after Mr. Chapin's removal, before the fourth pastor of the church 
commenced his ministerial labors here, several clergymen preached 
here a few weeks or months, as the case might be. Rev. Jonathan 
Magce afterwards settled at Brattleborough, Vt., and now at Nashua, 
N. U., labored here a few months in 1818. About the time of Rev. 
Scth Chapin's dismission the town as a town, declined uniting with 
the church any longer in the support of a minister. Thus the church 
was thrown upon its own resources. The preaching of the gospel 
has since been maintained by voluntary subscription. In January 
1820, Rev. John Lawton, who had previously spent a few sabbaths 
here, moved his family into town, and commenced preaching here 
constantly. In June 1821 he received a call from the church and 
society connected with it to settle over them in the ministry, which 
was accepted, and his installation took place Nov. 9, 1821. Rev. 
J. M. Whiton of Antrim offered the introductory prayer ; Rev. Joel 
Davis then of Barnard Vt,, preached the sermon; Rev. Jonathan 
Nye of Claremont, offered the Installing prayer ; Rev. Broughton 
White of Washington gave the Right Hand of Fellowship ; conclud- 
ing prayer by Rev. Joel Davis. 

PJr. Lawton continued in the pastoral relation here until April 22, 
1834, when he was dismissed at his own request. His labors here 
were very successful. Several extensive revivals o^cured during his 
ministry, particularly in 1827, when about seventy were added to the 
church as the fruits of it. Rev. Ira M. Mead, now of Ypsilanti, 
Michigan passed a few months in town, while this revival was in pro- 
gress and greatly assisted the pastor in his labors. Mr. ]\Iead was a 
native of Hinesburg, Vermont, graduated at the Vermont University, 
in 182G, and at the Andover Theological Seminary, in 1829. The 
whole number of accessions to the church while Mr. Lav/ton was its 
pastor, was 152, averaging about ten a year. Rev. John Lawton was 
born in Hardwick, Mass. August 14th, 17S0, graduated at Middle- 
bury college in 1805, pursued his preparatory theological studies 
with Rev. John B. Preston at Newport, Vermont, received his li- 
cence to preach in June ISOS, was ordained in Windham, Vt. ia Oct. 



OF HiLrsTBoKDuurr. 61 

1809, dismissed in Oct. 1819, and immediately began to preach in 
Hillsborough, was installed here Nov. 7, 1821, dismissed April 22, 
1834. Since his dismission here, Mr. Lawton has been engaged 
principally as a home missionary, but is now itinerating in New Eng- 
land as an agent for an educational institution in Illinois. His family 
yet continues to reside in this town. He was married at Cambridge, 
N. Y. Sept. 14, 1806, to Miss Sarah W. Davis, then of Sharon, Vt, 
who died January 22, 1824, aged 36. He was again married Feb. 
9, 1826, to Miss Abigail, only daughter of the late Rev. Jonathan 
Barnes. 

Mr. Lawton's successor in the ministry, Rev. Milton Ward, com- 
menced preaching here, in April 1834, and was consecrated to the 
pastoral office, 23d July of that year by an ecclesiastical council con- 
sisting of pastors, and delegates from ten churches. The services 
of the ordination were as follows ; Invocation and reading the scrip- 
tures by Rev. Orlando G. Thatcher of Bradford ; Introductory pray- 
er by Rev. Jacob Scales of Henniker; sermon by Rev. Calvin Cut- 
ler of Windham, N. H. ; consecrating prayer by Rev. Joseph Mer- 
ril of Acworth ; charge by Rev. John M. Whiion of Antrim j right 
hand of fellowship by Rev. Austin Richards of Francestown ; Ad- 
dress to the people by Rev. Silas Aiken of Amherst; concluding 
prayer by Rev. David Stowell of GofFstown. A change in his views 
respecting the nature and constitution of the christian church, led to 
his dismission by a mutual council, Nov. 10th, 1835. Mr. Ward 
is a native o( Plymouth, N. H., graduated at Dartmouth College in 
1825, studied medicine at Hanover, and graduated at the Medical 
Institution there in 1829, was a practitioner of Medicine several 
years at Windham, N. H ; but afterwards abandoned that profession, 
and studied Theology with Rev. Calvin Cutler at Windham, and 
settled in Hillsborough soon after he was licensed to preach. A 
few weeks subsequent to his dismission here, he was ordained by 
Bishop Griswold, as a minister of the Episcopal Church, in which 
capacity he has since officiated at Lynn, JMass., Blandford, Mass., 
and at Portsmouth, R. L, where he now resides. The church be- 
ing again destitute of a minister, procured Rev. Scth Farnsworth to 



02 ANNALb OF THE TOWN 

labor with them one year, at the expirailon of which, he accepted a 
call to settle over the Church and society here, and was installed 
Nov. 23, I80G, when the following order of exercises took place : 
Rev. Jubilee Wellman of Warner offered the introductory prayer, 
Rev. John M. Whiton of Antrim, preached the sermon from Phil- 
lijjpians 4, 5 ; Rev. Jacob Scales of Henniker, offered the installing 
prayer ; Rev. Archibald Burgess of Hancock, delivered the charge ; 
Rev. O. G. Thatcher of Bradford, expressed the fellowship of the 
churches; Rev. Moses Kimball of Hopkinton, addressed the church 
and society, and offered the concluding prayer. In 1836, a new 
ineeting house was erected at the Bridge village, for the use of the 
first Congregational Church and Society. It was opened for public 
worship Nov. 23d, in connection with Mr. Farnsworth's Installation. 
Rev. Mr. Farnsworth preached the sermon on this occasion, and 
Rev. A. Burgess of Hancock offered the dedicatory prayer. This 
house stands a little west of the centre of business at the bridge : is 
exceedingly commodious, elegantly finished, and is an ornament to 
the flourishing village where it is located. When Mr. F. was set- 
tled it was the understanding that he should preach one, alternately, 
Sabbath at the bridge, and the next at the centre, he. His labors 
here were abundant and salutary, but in the full tide of his useful- 
ness, when the affections oi the church and society were fixed on 
him with no common degree of ardor, he was suddenly removed by 
death, March 26th 1837. While Mr. F. was pastor of the church, 
five persons were added. In July 1837, this bereaved people, ob- 
tained the ministerial services of Rev. Samuel G. Tenney. He 
preached his first sermon to this people July 16. After laboring 
here nearly one year he was installed pastor of the church and so- 
ciety, July 4, 1838, order of services as follows : Invocation and 
reading the scriptures, by Rev. Stephen Rogers of Bradford ; Intro- 
ductory prayer by Rev. Joel Davis, then of Washington ; Sermon 
by Rev. Nathaniel Bouton of Concord, from 2 Timothy 4, 2 ; In- 
stalling Prayer by Rev. Peter Holt of Deering ; charge by Rev. 
John Lnvton former pastor; fellowship of the churches by Rev. 
John M. Whii'm of Antrim; address to the church and people by 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 63 

Rev. Jacob Scales of Henniker, and concluding prayer by Rev. 
Nathaniel T. Folsom of Francestown. This church has now be- 
come two bands. Ever since the dedication of the Meeting house 
at the bridge, it has been in contemplation to establish constant 
preaching in the congregational church there, when a favorable peri- 
od should arrive ; the death of Mr. Farnsworth probably retarded 
this event. In the spring of 1839, a competent salary was raised 
and a church organized May 29, 1839, by the name of the " Hills 
borough Bridge congregational church." It consisted at its forma- 
tion of 26 members, dismissed by letter from the first church. The 
present number of communicants is 70. Rev. S. G. Tenney was 
retained as pastor of this church. In October 1839, Tristram Saw- 
yer, Davison Russell, Samuel Morrison, and Frederick M. Sy- 
monds, were elected deacons of this church. Rev, Samuel Gilman 
Tenney its pastor was born at Rowley, Mass., April 12, 1793, fit- 
ted for college at Union Academy, Plainfield ; graduated at Dart- 
mouth College in 1823; studied his profession with Rev. Walter 
Chapin, D. D., at Woodstock, Vt. ; was ordained pastor of the Con- 
gregational church at Lyndon Vermont in July 1825; was dismissed 
in Jan. 1831 : from May 1831, to Nov. 1834, was stated supply at 
Bakersfield, Vt., without installation ; was installed at Waitsfield, Vt. 
in July 1835; and dismissed in July 1837, and came to Hillsborough, 
the same month. After the formation of the Bridge church the old 
church assumed the name of " Hillsborough Centre Church." The 
present number of its members is 106. Charles Baldwin, Stephen 
Richardson, and Othri Crosby, were elected deacons of this church, 
June 20, 1839. A new house of worship was erected in 1839, for 
the use of this church and society, and dedicated Dec. 4th, ot that 
year. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Stephen 
Rogers of Bradford. Rev. Edward Cleaveland, who had been set- 
tled in Rochester, N. H., labored with the church and society sev- 
eral months in 1839. Rev. John B. M. Bailey, now of Attlebo- 
rough, Mass., and Rev. Henry White, also preached for them some- 
lime, while they were destitute of a settled minister. In Feb. 1840, 
Rev. George VV. Adams, began his clerical labors and preached 



04 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

first to this people, Feb. 23. In March following he received and 
accepted an invitation to settle over them as their pastor and was in- 
stalled October 21, 1840, Rev. Samuel Gilman Tenney of the 
Bridge Church, invoked the Divine blessing, and read select por- 
tions of scripture ; Rev. David P. Smith offered the introductory 
prayer ', Rev. B. B, Beckwith of Castine Maine, preached the ser- 
mon from 1 Cor. 1 : 23, 24 ; Rev. Peter Holt of Deering offered the 
Installing prayer ; Rev. John M. Whiton of Castine, delivered the 
charge; Rev. S. G. Tenney gave the Right Hand of Fellowship ; 
Rev. D. P. Smith addressed the church and society; Rev. Stephen 
Rogers of Bradford offered the concluding prayer. The whole num- 
ber that were added to the church from the settlement of Rev. Ste- 
phen Chapin to 1839, a period of 34 years amounts to 223, Rev. 
George W. Adams, the present pastor of the Centre Church, was 
born in Limerick, Me., May 16, 1808, prepared for college at 
the Limerick Academy, graduated at Bowdoin College in 1835 ; 
and at the Theological Seminary at Bangor Maine, in 1837, was 
ordained pastor of the Congregational church in Brooksville, Maine, 
Oct. 25, 1837, dismissed February 4, 1840, and came to Hillsbo- 
rough the same month. 

Rev. Seth Farnsworth the sixth pastor of the Congregational 
church in Hillsborough was born in Charlestown, N. H., June 14th 
1795. He became the subject of serious religious impressions in 
181G, during a revival of religion in the adjoining town of Claremont. 
Having been educated by his father to believe the doctrine of the 
universal salvation ; the conflict between his convictions of duty and 
his inclinations and preconceived opinions was protracted and severe. 
But grace finally triumphed, and he gave up all for Christ. Being 
ardently desirous of more extensive usefulness in the service of his 
Redeemer, he commenced a course of study preparatory for the 
Christian ministry, at Union Academy, Plainfield, in the spring of 
1817. He entered Dartmouth College in August 1818, and receiv- 
ed the honors of that Institution in 1822. In the various depart- 
ments of study, he maintained a very respectable standing. Though 
his excessive diffidence, in some measure concealed his intellectual 



or IIILLSDOROUGII. 



65 



strength, and prevented his talents from being fully appreciated. Dur- 
ing the two years succeeding his graduation, he pursued the study of 
Theology under the direction of President Tyler. Having received 
license lo preach, he labored two years in ihe^ service of the \ er- 
mont Missionary Society with p;reat acceptance in severalof the dcs- 
titute towns in that state. In the autumn of 1S24 he received a call 
from the church and society in Raymond and was ordained Nov. 3, 
of that year and dismissed April 17, 1834. During the ten years of 
his ministry at Raymond, his labors were crowned with four seasons 
of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, when large accessions 
were made to his church. In 1834 he received a call from the 
church in Essex and another from the church in Morristown Ver- 
mont He preferred not to settle for the present in either place 
but engaged to supply the church in Essex for one year. Havinj; 
received a call to settle in Hillsborough, he was installed Nov. 23, 
1836. After a few months of earnest labor, he sickened suddenly 
of a lung fever, and after a few months of earnest profession, and the 
assiduities of an affectionate people, he died 26 ih IMarch 1837. As he 
drew near his end, every christian grace seemed to be called in- 
to lively exercise, faith, hope, love and joy filled his soul. A kw 
of the many expressions of holy joy which escaped his lips as he 
neared the heavenly world, arc here recorded, and they will con- 
vey some idea of his peaceful and triumphant departure. Re- 
peatedly in the extacy of joy would he exclaim, " Glory, glory to 
God, Hallelujah — Salvation, the Lord reigneth. Praise him, Oh praise 
him." After a short interval of repose, he clasped his hands and said, 
" Oh my God, how sweet, how sweet are the employments of Heav- 
en. Blessing and glory,and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and 
power, and might, be unto our God, forever and ever, Amen." Long- 
ing to depart and be with Christ he said, "Oh my soul when will 
you be at rest — come blessed Saviour, O come, come, Oh, that I 
had wings I would fly, yes blessed Jesus, I would fly to thine arms. 
Again raising his hands and eyes upward, he exclaimed, "Oh my Sa- 
viour, my love, my dove, my undcfiled, what sweet words, O my 
God, how sweet. On Sabbath morning, (the day he died,) after a 

few monnents of repose, he opened his eve? and beholdina; JMrs. F. 
I 



66 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

with their youngest child in licr arms, standing by his bed he raised 
his liaiids and said, " that dear child I love. My dear, I have faith 
to believe that the Covenant promise will be fulfilled in that child, I 
do believe, yes, I do believe that that child will become a child of 
grace." At another time he lay for some minutes as though listening 
to the sound of distant music. He seemed to try to catch the sound 
and to tune his voice to join in an anthem of praise. On opening 
liis eyes he said, " O my fiiends, I thought I was in glory, I have just 
come from the world of bliss, what happiness what unspeakable hap- 
piness to sing with angels, O, could I mount up with angels, I would 
sing with them an anthem of praise." After he had taken his leave 
of his family and friends, he lay sometime in a gentle repose. Mrs. 
F. asked him if he would take some drink. He opened his eyes and 
with a smile of joy on his countenance, he said, "Oh my dear, I have 
had such views of glory as I never had before. I have been swim- 
ming, swimming, yea I have been swimming in an ocean of bliss." On 
Sabbath morning a neighboring minister and relative who preached 
for him that day, inquired of him just before going to the house of 
God, if he had any message which he wished him to bear to his peo- 
ple. Message said he, yes I have a message for my dear people, 
" Tell my beloved people that my message to them, is that they re- 
ceive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save their 
souls, and that they be doers of the word, and not hearers only," he 
would have added more, but his strength failed him. He continued 
in die same happy frame of mind till half past 3 o'clock, when his 
immortal spirit was released from its clay tenement. As a minister Mr. 
Farnsworth was earnest, laborious, and faithful. The great truths 
which he believed and taught, dwelt richly in his own heart. Though 
his talents were more useful than brilliant, yet he was always interest- 
ing and frequently very eloquent in the pulpit. As a christian, a minis- 
ter, a husband, a father and a friend, he was uijiformly guided by the 
principles of Christian love. The kindness and meekness of his 
heart, his amiable deportment, and his humble walk with God, won 
the esteem and attachment of all classes in the community. " Bles- 
sed are the dead who die in the Lord." 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. G7 

Rev. Ozlas Silsby son of Henry Silsby, was born in "Windham, 
Conn., in June 1761, removed to Acvvorth, N. H., with his parents 
in early life, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1785, studied Di- 
vinity v^^ilh the Rev. George Leslie of Washington, was licensed to 
preach the Gospel, and labor, for some time in Henniker, N. H., and 
at Wells, Maine, but was never settled in the ministry ; his feeble 
health unfitting him for pastoral duty. He subsequently resided in 
various places, was carrier of the U. S. Mail fourteeen years from 
Chester to Exeter. In 1S14 he removed from Warner to this town, 
and continued to reside here until his death, Feb. 2Sth, 1833 aged 
72 years. He was twice married, first to Miss Mary Dearborn of 
Chester, and after her death, to Miss Frances Congdon Jones of 
Concord, a native of Claremont. Ten children survived him. 

The Deacons of the Congregational church from its organization 
in 17G9, to its division in 1839, were as follows : John Mead, Tris- 
tram Cheney, Isaac Andrus, Joseph Symonds, Paul Cooledge, Isaac 
Andrews, Jun. Jacob Spaulding, Joel Stow, George Dascomb, sev- 
en of whom have deceased. John Mead came to Hillsborough from 
Reading Mass. in 1766, and died here in August 181], aged about 
81. He endured all the privations of a pioneer in the wilderness, 
was a pious and exemplary man and adorned his profession. Tris- 
tram Cheney is believed to have been from Sudbury ]\Iass. He re- 
sided in Antrim just beyond the limits of Hillsborough, v.hcncc he 
removed to Marlow, where he died. For Isaac Andrews, Sen., see 
" Justices of the Peace." Dea. Joseph Symonds was born and bred 
in Middleton, INIass., removed to Hillsborough in 1774, and died 
here March 30, 1809, aged 77. Dea. Symonds w;^.s a pioaiinent 
man in the early history of the town. He possessed a strong mind, 
and solid judgment; was a highly intelligent and useful citizen, and 
deservedly esteemed by his townsmen. Dea. iS. was one of the 
fathers of the church, and maintained a highly e\eiii|!laiy clirisllan 
character. He married Lucy Kimball, of Boxfo-d, Mass.. who died 
Aug. 21, 1803, aged 69, having borne him thirteen children, ten of 
whom survived him. Dea. Paul Cooledge son of Nathaniel Cool- 
edge, sen. was born in Wcslon, x^Ia;^s., removed litre uiili his parents 



08 ANNALS OF THE TOWBF 

ill 1775, and died Aug. 20, 1835, aged 84. He mariied Miss 
Manila Jones, who died July 21, 1835, aged 78. Deacon Jacob 
Spaulding was a native of ChelinsCord, Mass., removed herein 1790 
;iiid died May 14, 1838, aged 70. He left a wife and seven chil- 
dren. Dea. Joel Stow was born at Marlborough Mass. Nov. 19, 
17G6. He removed to Hillsborough when about 21 years of age, 
and resided here until his death, Oct. 17th 1838, aged 72. Deacon 
Stow was an energetic and useful citizen. For several years he' 
served die town as one of their selectmen ; and represented them in 
the State Legislature four years from 1803. He loved the institu- 
tions of the Gospel, and did much towards sustaining them. He was 
ever active in supporting an Evangelical ministry, and staying up the 
hands of his pastor. He contributed liberally to the benevolent ob- 
jects of the day ; in his will befpeathing them $500 out of an estate 
of three thousand dollars, which made the amount of his benefac- 
tions at diilerent periods equal to $1000. The memory of the jusC 
is blessed. Dea. Stow married Miss Rebecca Howe of Hillsbo- 
rough, April 10th 1794, who died March 19th 1805. He was again 
married Feb. 14, 1806, to Miss Elizabeth Barnes of Marlborough^ 
INIass. Two of five children survive him. 

Dea. Isaac Andrews, Jan., son of Dea. Isaac Andrews was born 
at Ipswich, iMass. Nov. 11th, 1755, removed here from Carlisle,. 
Mass. in 17G7. He is yet living in a vigorous and healthful old age ;■ 
his mental faculties unimpaired. He faught in the battle of Bunker 
hill, and preserves a minute and vivid recollection of the events of 
that memorable day, which he relates in a very interesting manner. 
Maj. Andrews has an intimate knowledge of the scenes which have 
transpired in Hillsborough, state of N, II., and of its Inhabitants, dur- 
ing the seventy-four years he has been a resident here. Dea. Geo'. 
Dascomb was born in Lunenburgh, Mass. Oct. 16th 1764; emigrat- 
ed to Milton, N.H., with his parents when he was two years old ; re- 
moved to Hillsborough, in 1791. 

In May 1813, a Baptist society was organized by a number of in- 
dividuals,"cherishing the peculiar views of that denomination. For 
seven years from this time, they were supplied with preaching but 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 69 

one sabbaih to each month ; during this period they employed the 
labors of different niinisters. The Rev. Messrs. Willard of Dublin, 
Higbee of Alstead, Elliott of Mason, Ambrose of Sutton, and Cum- 
mings of Sullivan, all ministered here occasionally. In the year 
1819, they conmienced holding meetings on the sabbath, when des- 
titute of the preaching of the gospel, which were conducted by them- 
selves as meetings for mutual prayer and conference. Aug. 31, 1828, 
the first Baptist church was gathered. Rev. Elijah Willard of Dub- 
lin preached the sermon. This church at its organization consisted 
of sixteen members, seven males and nine females. James Ayer, 
and Fisher Gay were appointed deacons. From 1820 to 1828, 
most of their preaching was by Rev. Charles Cummings. In 1828, 
he moved his iamily into the town, and commenced preaching con- 
stantly for this people. Until 1828, their meetings were held either 
in school houses or private dwellings. In November of that year, a 
house of worship sixty feet by forty-five which had been erected lor 
their use was dedicated. Rev. Joseph Elliot, then of IMason, now 
of Alton, Illii^ois, preached the dedication sermon. In 1831, Rev. 
INIr. Cummings returned with his family to Sullivan. He is now 
pastor of the Baptist church in Swanzey. In 1831, the church be- 
came connected with the JMilford association of churches. After the 
dismission of the Rev. Mr. Cummings, the church had no permanent 
supply for several years. In 1834, the Rev. John Peacock labored 
with the church five months, during which time there was an interest- 
ing levival and about forty were added to the church. In 1635, 
Rev. Moses Cheney by invitation of the church and society moved 
his family here, and became their stated minister. Alter remaining 
in the place about fourteen months, he left in March 1836. The 
same year Rev. John Atwood formerly of New Boston was invited 
by the church and society to become their pastor. He accepted 
and commenced his labors statedly, on the first of Feb. 1837, but 
never received the pastoral care of the church. For certain reasons 
resting principally with the leading members, the church has never 
admitted any ]:)erson to assume a pastoral connexion with them. Af- 
ter continuing his labors with the church and society three years, 
Mr. Atwood was dismissed by the church in Feb. 1840, but con- 
tinued to preach for the society. The first church remained desti- 
tute until the first of Feb. 1841, when the Rev. Philip Chamberlain, 
from Campton, N. H. moved here and yet ministers to this church. 
On the 5ih of November 1840, the Independent Baptist Church 
was embodied by the advice and assistance of an Ecclesiastical coun- 
cil, convened for the purpose. The sermon on the occasion was 
delivered by the Rev. J. P. Appleton of Wilton, and the Fellow- 
ship of the Council was presented by Rev. Pliinehas Richardson ol 
Hollis. The Rev. John Atwood holds the relation of pastor to this 
church, which consisted when constituted ol twenty members. And 



70 ANNALS OF THE TOWN 

thirteen have shice been added. The whole number of persons bap- 
tized in connection with the Baptist interest in Hillsborough, since 
the formation of the first church in 1820 is 105, The number add- 
ed by letter is 56; dismissed to other churches 43, expunged from 
the records 34, excluded 13, died 13. The present number of Bap- 
list professors in town is about 100. 

Rev. John Atwood, A. M., the pastor, of the " Independent Baptist 
Church, in Hillsborough," was born in Hudson, N. H. October 3d 
1795, prepared for college with Rev. Daniel Merrill of Hudson, 
was a member of Waterville College, Maine, from 1820 to 1824; 
was ordained pastor of the 1st Baptist Church in New Boston in May 
1825, dismissed in Feb. 1835 and from that time labored in Frances- 
town until his removal to Hillsborough in Feb. 1837. A methodist 
church was organized in 1838, and a neat and commodious edifice 
of public worship erected for their accommodation in 1839. This 
house was dedicated Oct. 2d, of that year. Dedication sermon by 
Rev. Jared Perkins, then of Nashua. 



As a matter not altogether uninteresting to the inhabitants of Hills- 
borough, it is thought proper to append a list of the representatives 
of the town in the state legislature ; town clerks, moderators of the 
annual town meetings and selectmen from the first town meeting to 
the present time. The year at the left hand of the name denotes the 
time of election ; the figures at the right, the period of continuance 
in office by elections in inmiediate succession. 



Representatives. 

Until 1792, Hillsborough was classed with Henniker ; neither 
town of itself being sufficiently populous to entitle it to a representa- 
lative till that year. John Dutton, William Wallace of Henniker, 
and Benjamin Pierce, represented the towns, while thus classed to- 
gether. Hillsborough has been represented by the following indi- 
viduals since 1792. 

1829, Franklin Pierce, 4. 

1833, Hiram Monroe, 6. 

29 Albert Baker, ^ ^ 

' Elijah Monroe, 5 

o. I Albert Baker, > 

' Henry D. Pierce. 5 

In 1839, ii was ascertained that the town was entitled to two rep- 
rcseulatives. 



1792, 


Benjamin Pierce, 


11. 


1803, 


Joel Stow, 


4. 


1807, 


Elijah Beard. 


5. 


1812, 


James Wilson, 


10. 


1822 


Andrew Sargent, 


4. 


1820, 


Thomas Wilson, 


o 



OF HILLSBOROUGH. 



71 



Town Clerks. 




3. 


1794, 


Calvin Stevens, 


1. 


1805, 


Elijah Beard, 




1808 


Andrew Sargent, 


1. 


1816, 


James Wilson, 


1. 


1823, 


Andrew Sargent, 


h:, I. 


1830, 


Thomas Wilson, 


1. 


1832, 


Jonathan Beard, 


5. 


1835, 


Amos Flint, 


7. 
1. 


1841, 


Jotham INIoore, 



1772, Isaac Andrews, 3. ] 1794, Calvin Stevens, 11. 

1775, Joseph Symonds, 

1776, Samuel Bradford,* 

1777, William Pope, 

1778, Timo. Bradford, 

1779, Samuel Bradford, Jr., 

1780, William Pope, 

1781, Isaac Andrews, 
1786, John Button, 
1793, Enos Tovvne,* 

* Capt. B. died in August 1776, and William Pope was elected 
his successor, as first selectman and town clerk, for the remainder of 
the year. Enos Towne died in 1795 and John McColly succeeded 
him for the residue of that year. 



Moderators of the Aimual Town Meelinffs. 



1774, Timothy Wilkins, 

1775, Joseph Symonds, 

1776, Daniel McNeil, 

1777, Andrew Bixby, 

1778, Joseph Symonds, 

1782, James McColley, 

1783, Joseph Symonds, 
1792, Benjamin Pierce, 

1801, Otis Howe, 

1802, Benjamin Pierce, 

1803, John Button, 
1805, Benjamin Pierce, 
1810, David Starret, 



1. 


ISIJ, 


1. 


1814, 


1. 


1815, 


1. 


J823, 


4. 


1824, 


1. 


1825, 


9. 


1828, 


9. 


1834, 


1. 


1835, 


1. 


1836, 


2. 


1837, 


5. 


1841, 


]. 





Benjamin Pierce, 3. 

Nehemiah Jones, 1. 

John Burnam, 8. 

Luther Smith, 1. 

John Burnam, 1 . 

Reuben Hatch, 3. 

Franklin Pierce, 6. 

Amos Flint, 1. 

Thomas Wilson, 1. 
Nahum Parker Foster, 1 . 

Hiram Monroe, 4. 
Albert Baker, 



Selectmen. 



1772, Isaac Andrews, 3. 

John McColley, 3. 

Daniel McNeil, 3. 

Isaac Baldwin, 3. 

William Pope, 3. 

1775, Joseph Symonds, 1. 

Samuel Bradfordjs'r.* 1. 



James Eaton, 
1795, Samuel Bradford, 
1797, George Bascomb, 
1799, Elijah Beard, 
1600, Jacob Spaulding, 

1805, Andrew Sargent, 

1806, Silas Button, 



6 

2 

2 

9 

6 

11 



ANNALS OF THE TOWN 



-O/^^^ 



John McClintock, 1. 

1770, Asa Dresser, 1. 

Arcliibald Taggart, 1. 

William Pope, 2. 

1777, .John iMcColIcy, 1. 
Moses Steel, 1. 

1778, Timothy Bradford, 1. 
Sam'l 15radlord, Jr. 2. 
Daniel McNeil, 1. 

1779, Ammi Andrews, 1. 
Jaines McColley, 1. 

1780, William Pope, 1. 
Calvin Stevens, 2. 
Jacob Flint, 1. 

1781, Isaac Andrews, 7. 
John Dutton, 12. 
Archibald Taggart, 2. 
John McClary, 1. 

1782, The three first of the 
5 elected in 17S2 con- 
stituted the board in 
1782. 

1783, Isaac Andrews, Jr. 

1784, James McColley, 

1785, William Taggart, 



1. 
1. 
1. 
1. 
1. 
1. 
1. 
1. 
2. 
2. 
2. 
3. 
1. 
1. 
11. 



1 808, David Stnrrct, 1. 
Joseph Curtis Barnes, 2. 

1809, Timothy Wyman, 
181u, James Wilson, 

1811, Joel Stow, 

1812, Samuel Barnes, 

1813, Luther Smid),+ 

1814, Samuel Gibson, 
1816, Joel Stow, 

Jonathan Tilton, 
1818, George Little, 

1820, William McClintock, 

1821, Alexander McCoy, 
Peter Codman, 

1822, Joel Stow, 



1786, John Bradford, 
William Symonds, 

1787, William Taggart, 

1788, Isaac Andrews, Jr. 
Paul Cooledge, 

1789, John McColley, 

1790, John McClary, 

1791, Isaac Andrews, 

1792, John McColley, 

1793, EnosTowne.f 
Solomon Andrews, 

1794, Calvin Stevens, 

*(^apt. Samuel Bradford died in Aug. 177G, and William Pope was his successor, fertile 
rest of the year, t l*'.nos Town died in the year 1793, and John McColley was chosen to 
serve in the ollices of town clerk, and first selectman, for the rest of the year, j Dr. Luther 
Smith resigned the oilicc of selectman, on account of its interfering with his professional 
business and Samuel (libson was elected in his stead I'or the remainder of the year. 



1823, Andrew Sargent, 
Reuben Hatch, 
Solomon McNeil, 

1824, Joel Stow, 
Thomas Wilson, 

1826, Benjamin Tuttle, 
1828, Hiram Monroe, 

Peter Codman, '" 
Isaac Jones Cooledge, 
Jonathan Beard, 
Levi Goodale, 
Samuel C. Dutton, 
Joseph Phipps, 
Amos Flint, 

1835, Levi Goodale, 

1836, Ransom Bixby, 

1838, James Currier, 

1839, Daniel Brown, 
Jotham Moore, 

1840, Hiram INlonroe, 

1841, Sandy Smith. 



1S30, 

1831, 
1832, 

1833, 
18.34, 



2. 

13. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

2. 
5. 
2. 
2. 
1. 
1. 
2. 
1. 
7. 
1. 
1. 
2, 
8. 
2. 
1. 

1. 
4. 
2. 
1. 

O. 

7. 
4. 
2. 
1. 
1. 



